One cannot deny the value that the young Shingi Male has provided us with over the past two years in terms of some incredible sightings. Although sightings of him and his mother have become less frequent, he still roams safely within her territory.
The impressive size of the Shingi Male next to his mother
The last surviving cub of a litter of three, he is on the cusp of independence.
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Londolozi’s most viewed leopard and prolific mother. This gorgeous female has raised multiple cubs to independence.
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Young leopards are often agile, enthusiastic and playful, frequently running to climb trees and termite mounds as they navigate their environment, and the Shingi Male is no exception.
The enthusiastic change of direction as the Shingi Male quickly climbed this marula tree
One afternoon, after unsuccessfully trying to find his mother, the Nkoveni Female, another vehicle found the Shingi Male not too far away, lying in a marula tree. My guests and I had been hoping throughout their stay to capture a sighting of a leopard in a tree, and this seemed like it might be our moment.
Unfortunately, it was not. As we made our way there, we could see him resting in the tree from a distance, but just as we came into full view, he descended into the long grass below. A minor moment of disappointment as the sun began to set, we realised we had missed the opportunity.
We continued to follow him as the sky shifted from yellow and orange hues to soft pinks and blues. Suddenly, he ran off, stopped abruptly, and leapt into the long grass. Two Harlequin Quails (small ground birds) flushed as he pounced in their direction. It seemed that his rest in the tree had given him renewed energy, as he continued to hunt several of these birds—unsuccessfully, but very entertaining to watch.
With the grasses being lush and long this time of year, the leopards can stalk effectively by getting down low.
As the light continued to fade, he walked through the clearings ahead of us. A fallen marula tree in the distance appeared to guide his path, and with the long grass surrounding him, we looped ahead and waited. Soon, we were delighted as he came bounding onto the fallen marula tree.
He then continued to climb way up to the upper reaches of this tree.
He climbed way up to the upper parts of this fallen Marula and appeared to have picked up the scent of something.
As we watched him, something incredible was brewing behind us, and with that we spun around, and to be honest, I could not quite believe my eyes…
It looks almost too good to be true, but with all the moisture and clouds around this time of year and the glimmers of the fading sun, this is a sighting I will always remember.
He then rubbed his face on the end of the branch before turning back and climbing back down.
Combing his whiskers on the branch beneath him, he then spun around and climbed down the marula tree.
He walked through the long grass once more before settling on a termite mound, scanning the nearby herd of impala as the last of the sun set faded behind him. We left him here and journeyed home with an exceptionally memorable moment that we were fortunate enough to share together.
The last light of a spectacular afternoon spent with this young male leopard.
If you’re wondering whether you should feed the wild animals you see wandering over the crusty snow in your yard, the answer is no.
If you’re wondering whether you should feed the wild animals you see wandering over the icy snow in your yard, the answer is no.
“Folks often feel a need to do something to support the wildlife,” John Burke, natural resources branch manager with the Fairfax County Park Authority, told WTOP. “(But) keep in mind that all of these critters are well adapted to survive in the conditions that we’re experiencing now, and sometimes much colder.”
Many mammals rely on fat reserves to keep themselves warm and sustain them through the winter.
“We might pack on a few pounds during the holidays; mammals do the same thing ahead of time,” Burke said.
Deer can make do by eating some pretty boring meals.
“They can survive well off of the types of plants that we find in this area that you may not consider to be particularly nourishing: twigs, bit of branches, things like that,” Burke said.
As for gray squirrels, they hide food in many places, not just on the ground.
“They’ll also huddle up, slow down, not spend a lot of time expending energy; and in some cases, gather communally in their dens or dreys to keep each other warm,” Burke said.
It’s not necessary to put out bird feeders in the winter, but if you must, Burke said the feeders need to be well kept.
“It’s really important that seed be kept clean, and that the bird feeders are cleaned once every couple of weeks with a 10% bleach solution,” he said.
Burke strongly discouraged anyone from feeding wild animals and pointed out that it’s illegal in many places.
“It can help spread diseases. It can get these animals used to being around people which can sometimes be dangerous, and generally because these animals can fend for themselves during the winter and survive quite well,” he said.
Bottom line: if you’re worried about the creatures outside your window, Burke said, don’t be.
“There’s really nothing we need to be doing, just observing and enjoying their presence. We should be seeing a lot more activity here come spring,” he said.
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Redondo Beach environmentalists this week celebrated the opening of a white seabass grow-out pen that’s set to help the fish grow healthily in a safe habitat before being released into the ocean.
City officials and environmentalists gathered this week to cut ribbon on the grow out pen and celebrate the official opening and its anticipated progress.
A new white seabass grow out pen just opened on the Redondo Beach harbor on Jan. 26, 2026 that’s set to help the threatened fish grow healthily in a safe habitat before being released into the ocean. (photo from Mark Hansen)
The grow-out, at the Redondo Beach Harbor Patrol Dock, will reinvigorate local efforts to raise this threatened fish population, Mayor Jim Light has said.
Local coastal builder Clark McNulty dropped the first batch of seabass, nearly 1,500 fish, into the pen on Nov. 20. McNulty’s Coastal Construction Group brought the latest project to life when crews installed the grow out pen that month.
The seabass are raised at grow out facilities until they grow to eight to 10 inches long, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, then released into the harbor.
The process, Light said, gives the fish a much greater chance of survival. It has helped white seabass polulation recover since its steady decline in the 1990s, he added.
A new white seabass grow out pen just opened on the Redondo Beach harbor on Jan. 26, 2026 that’s set to help the threatened fish grow healthily in a safe habitat before being released into the ocean. (photo from Mark Hansen)
Fully grown white seabass can reach more than four feet long, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The process of the hatchery program starts in Carlsbad, per the department, where juvenile white seabass grow to four inches before being sent to one of the 13 grow out facilities throughout the region, including the Redondo Beach grow out site.
The fish are held at the grow-out facilities until they are ready for release, typically at around 8 to 10 inches in length.
Volunteers are also needed to work one hour per week to feed fish, clean the pen and remove any dead fish from the grow out facility. A weekly schedule with assigned days will be released once sign ups are filled.
A 77-pound mountain lion set off a scramble Tuesday as it wandered through San Francisco’s wealthy Pacific Heights neighborhood before finally being captured as onlookers safely peered from their home windows or stood across the street.
Dozens of officials worked to capture and tranquilize the male cat after warnings were issued advising people to slowly back away if they encountered it.
The wild cat was first seen Monday morning.
“It was so big … not just a regular cat,” said Madrey Hilton, who took video of the animal Monday morning and alerted authorities, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
The lion “just looked like it was minding its own business,” Hilton told the newspaper, adding that it scaled the wall and headed into picturesque Lafayette Park, which features two tennis courts, a children’s playground, and an off-leash dog area.
The mountain lion was found Tuesday hiding in a garden between two apartment buildings, San Francisco Fire Department Lt. Mariano Elias said. Authorities shot the feline with tranquilizers three times “to make sure it was completely unconscious,” Elias said. “They covered his eyes and bound its paws, just to make sure it wasn’t going to run anywhere.”
Veterinarians with the San Francisco Zoo then examined the cat before placing it in a cage. It will undergo further testing to ensure it is healthy before it’s released to the wild, Elias said.
The 2-year-old male cougar was tagged and last spotted in Saratoga, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of San Francisco, he said. Cougars, mountain lions, panthers and pumas are the same cat species — puma concolor, according to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance website.
Mountain lion sightings are rare in San Francisco, where coyotes abound.
In 2020, a young mountain lion was spotted sleeping in a planter box along a normally busy street and looking at his reflection in the glass of an office tower in downtown San Francisco. The animal was later safely captured and released into the wild.
Experts say the animals come up along the Pacific coast from the hills south of the city, but eventually find their way back to the wilderness.
Angela Yip, a spokesperson for the city’s Animal Care and Control, said there was no threat to the public.
Mountain lions also live in Los Angeles, one of the world’s only megacities of 10 million-plus, where large felines thrive by breeding, hunting and maintaining territory within urban boundaries.
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Olga R. Rodriguez, Haven Daley, The Associated Press
DEAR JOAN: Recently I noticed mushrooms growing at the base of one of the juniper trees in the backyard. It was interesting, so I took a picture.
A couple of days ago, I noticed that the mushrooms were gone, and there were scratch marks in the damp earth at the base where the mushrooms had been.
I am curious as to what animal could have eaten the mushrooms, and if that animal is in any danger from poisoning. I see raccoons, possums, squirrels, and birds on my backyard camera.
Who is the most likely culprit, or victim?
— Nancy McKiernan, Sunnyvale
DEAR NANCY: The winter rains can turn our Bay Area yards into fairylands with mushrooms popping up all over. While it is never a good idea to eat one without knowing exactly what type it is, animals don’t have the benefit of being able to call on a mycologist to determine the identity.
Instead, they rely on taste, outcome and experience. If a wild animal eats a mushroom that later makes it ill, it will avoid those mushrooms in the future, provided they survive. They’ll likely also stay away from anything that has a same or similar taste. That provides them with some protection against eating the poisonous ones.
In the Bay Area, there are two mushrooms that are unsafe for any creature, and those are the death cap (Amanita phalloides) and the western destroying angel (Amanita ocreata). Both are commonly found near and around oak trees.
As for what animal would eat the golden hued mushrooms you observed, the list is long. Mushrooms are a treat for wildlife as they have a high water content, are a good source of protein, and a good source of vitamins and phosphorus.
Rats, squirrels, deer, box turtles, wild turkeys, and wild boars, just to name a few that might be visiting your yard, all love mushrooms. The scratches you observed lead me to think of turkeys, but there’s no way to know for certain.
DEAR JOAN: I’m already thinking about spring and what I’ll be planting in my vegetable garden. Last year, much of the garden was eaten by rats, birds and squirrels. I’m wondering if one of those plastic owls would scare them away?
— Alice B., Clayton
DEAR ALICE: Decoys do work, however briefly, against the birds but it’s unlikely the rats and squirrels will even raise an eyebrow.
Stationary owl statues and other decoys might keep the birds away for a day or two, but then the birds figure out there’s no threat, and before you know it, they’re perching on the fake owl’s head and having a good laugh.
You want something that will move unpredictably. Objects that are pushed and pulled by the wind, and which add unexpected flashes of light have a better and longer track record of success. You can hang reflective ribbons or old CDs throughout the garden.
For the rats and squirrels, the only thing stopping them are physical barriers. Surrounding your garden with a hardware cloth fence and a shock wire on top will do wonders.
The Animal Life column runs on Mondays. Contact Joan Morris at AskJoanMorris@gmail.com.
Two small dogs were killed in separate attacks when coyotes jumped Lafayette fences into backyards that faced open space in less than one week.
An adult Pomeranian was killed in northwest Lafayette around 7 a.m. Saturday when a coyote attacked it in a backyard that faces open space in the 2800 block of Shoshone Trail, according to Lafayette Police Department Sgt. Jeremy Molander. Another dog, an adult cocker spaniel, was killed in northeast Lafayette around 10 a.m. Tuesday in a similar backyard in the 1200 block of Hawk Ridge Road, Molander said.
Both dogs were outside unattended when the coyotes attacked, Molander said in an email.
“Although it is fairly rare, pets can sometimes look like prey to wildlife,” the Lafayette Police Department wrote in a social media post.
Police notified the Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife of both attacks, Molander said.
Kara Van Hoose, a spokesperson for the wildlife agency, said it is important for residents in the Lafayette, Erie and Broomfield areas, particularly those who live near open space, to know they are living in “coyote country.”
Van Hoose recommended pet owners keep an eye on their dogs and make noise when opening doors to let pets outside, particularly around dawn and dusk when coyotes are most active.
“Keeping an eye on your pets is a huge, huge deal and part of being a responsible pet owner,” she said.
The parks and wildlife department has additional recommendations for people to stay safe and protect pets in the presence of coyotes, according to the department’s website.
• Secure garbage, pet food, birdfeeders and compost piles
• For residents with coyotes near their homes, consider radios, motion-activated lighting, strobe lights, sirens or odor deterrents.
• Keep pets up to date on vaccines.
• Keep cats indoors and always supervise pets when they’re outdoors.
• If a dog must be kept outside, keep it in a fully enclosed kennel.
• Keep pets on a short leash and never let them play or interact with wildlife.
Two soldiers at Fort Carson were convicted of poaching mule deer on the military and state land, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials said.
State wildlife officials started investigating in November 2024 after a hunter reported finding a buck that appeared to be poached on the base, the agency said in a news release Tuesday.
When a CPW officer arrived in the area, they found a partially processed buck that had been abandoned with “select cuts of meat removed and the antlers cut off,” state officials said.
The officer found a doe 100 yards away that was also partially processed and abandoned, and both locations showed signs of illegal poaching, CPW leaders said in a news release.
The investigating wildlife officer found evidence to identify a vehicle connected to the case and later found related pictures on social media of Army Sgt. Jacob Curtis Keyser and Staff Sgt. Juan Salcedo.
Investigators also executed search warrants that uncovered evidence of poaching and trespassing in Keyser’s vehicle and on his phone.
A third soldier, whom state officials did not name, was fined $900 for disposing of Keyser’s poached venison right before Keyser was interviewed by a state wildlife investigator.
Keyser was charged with 30 wildlife violations and was fined $19,005 and 180 suspension points, state officials said. He must also surrender his hunting rifle, which will be destroyed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Salcedo was charged with 15 violations and was fined $8,817 and 65 suspension points.
People who are convicted of wildlife crimes and accumulate 20 or more suspension points over a five-year period are subject to wildlife license suspension hearings, according to the agency.
State officials will hold a suspension hearing in the coming months to determine how long the soldiers will be barred from hunting and fishing, which could be up to a lifetime, nationwide ban through the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.
“Poaching is a serious, costly crime which harms legitimate sportspersons, wildlife viewers, small business owners and taxpayers,” district wildlife manager and investigating officer Demetria Wright said in a statement.
An endangered species of marsupial known as the “northern quoll” or the “North Australian native cat” has been spotted in a wildlife sanctuary in Queensland for the first time in almost a century, sparking hopes of a potential comeback.
The critter was captured on a motion-sensor camera at the 164,850-hectare Piccaninny Plains Wildlife Sanctuary in Northern Kaanju Country, jointly owned by Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) and The Tony & Lisette Lewis Foundation.
Once widespread across northern and eastern Australia, northern quoll populations have collapsed due to toxic cane toads; feral predators including cats; inappropriate fire regimes; and habitat loss.
The closest detection of the species was in 2017, when a quoll was captured on a trail camera on the neighbouring Indigenous managed Kaanju Ngaachi Wenlock and Pascoe River IPA by Chuulangun Rangers.
Ecologists have been fearing the loss of the species from Piccaninny Plains for nearly two decades after failing to detect the elusive marsupial in surveys since 2008—including multiple targeted camera deployments in 2015, 2021 and 2023.
Then last year, sanctuary manager Nick Stock, following a hunch, deployed a single camera on an isolated rocky outcrop within the sanctuary that he spotted from a helicopter. Within days he had captured unmistakable evidence of a quoll.
“It was a fantastic surprise!” Helena Stokes, AWC Wildlife Ecologist said. “After years of no sightings, to finally confirm a northern quoll on the sanctuary is hugely uplifting for our team. It reinforces the importance of persistence, good science, and managing threats across large landscapes.”
This record, according to Stokes gives them a “roadmap” and a clear starting point for future surveys and research.
“It’s possible this quoll, and hopefully others, have adapted their behaviour in response to the presence of cane toads. Understanding that resilience could be vital for the species’ long-term survival,” she said.
The rediscovery also offers an important starting point for understanding how the species continues to persist on Cape York.
Early signs indicate that the rocky outcrop has largely escaped fire—thanks to AWC’s long‑term fire management—and, to date, surveillance cameras have not detected any feral cats in the area.
“Every rediscovery matters,” said Nick Stock. “Just when we were close to giving up hope, this little quoll reminds us why we keep searching, and why protecting these landscapes at scale is essential.”
Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about endangered species? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.
A dead whale found on the bow of a ship at the Gloucester Marine Terminal in South Jersey has prompted a federal investigation into the circumstances of the animal’s death.
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, is collecting real Christmas trees for its lions and tigers. “This time of year is really fun because Christmas trees are great enrichment for the big cats,” Laurie Vanderwal, a zoologist and co-curator at Turpentine Creek said. “They do like the smell of cedar and fir trees. It’s also something different and novel that they don’t get all the time.”Vanderwal said the refuge receives trees from locals and tree farms. They take trees with the decorations removed.Turpentine Creek has 123 animals, from big cats to grizzly bears, and even a hyena. Some of their animals are from the park in the popular show “Tiger King.””It was just such a relief because we knew those animals had not been getting proper care for many years,” Vanderwal said. The animals at the sanctuary were neglected by their past owners. She said caring for the animals goes beyond providing food and water. These animals cannot return to the wild because they were born and bred in captivity.”They don’t know how to hunt. They wouldn’t know how to survive,” Vanderwal said. “Because they’re coming from captive situations and abusive situations and neglect, they tend to come with veterinary issues.” Vanderwal said she’s in a profession she hopes doesn’t have to exist in the future. “Hopefully, that, you know, eventually people will not own these cats as pets anymore,” Vanderwal said. “People will not try to keep them in horrific conditions anymore. And the rescue part will not have to exist.”Vanderwal said they provide scent enrichment year-round. In spring and summer, they grow a garden of various spices like catnip, basil and oregano for the animals. Eureka Springs is located in the Ozark Mountains in Northwest Arkansas.
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, is collecting real Christmas trees for its lions and tigers.
“This time of year is really fun because Christmas trees are great enrichment for the big cats,” Laurie Vanderwal, a zoologist and co-curator at Turpentine Creek said. “They do like the smell of cedar and fir trees. It’s also something different and novel that they don’t get all the time.”
Vanderwal said the refuge receives trees from locals and tree farms. They take trees with the decorations removed.
Turpentine Creek has 123 animals, from big cats to grizzly bears, and even a hyena. Some of their animals are from the park in the popular show “Tiger King.”
“It was just such a relief because we knew those animals had not been getting proper care for many years,” Vanderwal said.
The animals at the sanctuary were neglected by their past owners. She said caring for the animals goes beyond providing food and water. These animals cannot return to the wild because they were born and bred in captivity.
“They don’t know how to hunt. They wouldn’t know how to survive,” Vanderwal said. “Because they’re coming from captive situations and abusive situations and neglect, they tend to come with veterinary issues.”
Vanderwal said she’s in a profession she hopes doesn’t have to exist in the future.
“Hopefully, that, you know, eventually people will not own these cats as pets anymore,” Vanderwal said. “People will not try to keep them in horrific conditions anymore. And the rescue part will not have to exist.”
Vanderwal said they provide scent enrichment year-round. In spring and summer, they grow a garden of various spices like catnip, basil and oregano for the animals.
Eureka Springs is located in the Ozark Mountains in Northwest Arkansas.
From their home in Contra Costa County, Peter and Corie Knights have made it their mission to help animals. What makes it unusual is those animals live more than 8,000 miles away.
The Knights founded the nonprofit organization Wild Africa, which works on protecting animals in Africa by raising awareness through mini-documentaries, news stories, music concerts and public service ads.
“Really the only place with large mammals left anywhere on the planet is Africa,” said Peter Knights, sitting at the dining room table in a friend’s San Francisco apartment. “So this our last chance for the mammals.”
Africa’s animal populations, from elephants to rhinos, giraffes to pangolins, are in peril from a number of directions: elephant ivory and rhino horn poaching, habitat loss, climate change, and the black market bush meat trade. British-born Peter Knights first saw it working as an environmental investigator who later founded Wild Aid to address the illegal ivory, rhino horn and shark fin markets. Through its work, the group was able to reduce shark fin consumption by 85% and rhino horn consumption by two-thirds in Asia.
But even as far back as 1989, Peter was sounding the alarm about Africa’s elephants.
“Half the African elephant population had disappeared in the previous 15 years,” he said. “I thought if people knew that, they would be pretty damned shocked and want to do something about it.”
So the strategy for Wild Africa turned to getting the information about the threats to animals before the public and the leaders who make decisions.
“Ultimately, whether the wildlife survives will be up to the local people and the local governments,” Peter said. “They have to decide whether they’re going to protect it.”
Peter’s wife Corie grew up in the Bay Area with a soft spot for animals. Something about their vulnerability and how they couldn’t speak up for themselves moved her. At one point in her 20s, she volunteered with Marin County’s Marine Mammal Center, rising before dawn to feed harbor seals herring milkshakes. After connecting with Peter, they worked together on Wild Aid before going on to start Wild Africa.
“We both realized after multiple trips to Africa that Africa was really where our heart is,” Corie said. “We have spent so much time there. We probably have been 100 times between us.”
Wild Africa’s roadmap for protecting animals involves harnessing mass media to raise awareness through social media, news broadcasts and newspapers. They’ve teamed up with religious and government leaders, sports icons, celebrities, and musicians to promote their messages of conservation. One of the group’s biggest promotions is called Musicians for Wildlife — a concert series where some 130 musicians in Africa perform shows where they relay the message about the plight of Africa’s creatures.
“That’s part of what we’re doing is showing, whether it’s musicians or athletes, out seeing the world,” Peter said. “So people are like, ’Maybe that’s something I’d like to do some day.’”
While in many cases the Knights deliver their messages to the public, they’ve also worked extensively to bring people to the animals by leading African safaris. Their guests are often stunned to see lions lounging mere feet from their jeep, or massive African bull elephants wandering over to inspect the visitors. Peter reasoned that animal tourism is a powerful incentive for conservation.
“If you want to support conservation, one of the ways of doing it is by going on safari because that generates jobs, it generates money within the economy,” Peter said.
Among the stars of Wild Africa’s media outreach is Nigerian veterinarian Dr. Mark Ofua, who hosts a children’s show where he teaches young people about animals, including snakes, crocodiles and the lesser known pangolin, sometimes referred to as scaly anteaters. Ofua said many of the young people he encounters don’t even know which species of animals are found in Africa.
“So this show now is focused on animals that we have in Africa to get kids to learn about them, to know about them, to love them,” Ofua said during a visit to San Francisco. “And then to join the movement to be able to do something to preserve and conserve the animals we have in Africa.”
The Knights currently have 85 media partners across 10 countries, including television networks, radio stations and newspapers, which they supply with footage for stories on animals in exchange for free media placement.
“They all are keen on covering it,” Peter said. “They just don’t have the resources to cover it, so that’s where we come in.”
While many people might wring their hands at an issue so far from home, the Knights have embraced it. Corie said the couple splits its time between the two continents, but even back in the Bay Area, Africa is never far from the mind.
“Honestly it’s breathtaking,” Corie said. “Peter and I always say we feel like it’s our church. We’re humbled in the presence of these animals.”
A new study by Colorado Parks and Wildlife researchers suggests man-made whitewater parks that create “play waves” for kayakers and other recreationists are having a negative impact on fish passage.
Colorado’s rivers are well-loved by both whitewater enthusiasts and anglers. Yet, as whitewater parks have been constructed throughout the state, researchers say the potential impacts on fish and anglers have not always been taken into consideration.
“Essentially, they’re kind of at odds,” said Eric Richer, an aquatic research scientist with the state wildlife agency and one of the lead authors of the study. “Fish want slow, deep water and whitewater parks, to create the hydraulic wave, are constricting water into a steep chute or drop, often over a surface that has been grouted to try to make it as smooth as possible to get those velocities elevated.”
The state wildlife agency first began looking into the impacts of white water parks on fish passage a number of years ago after one scientist who is an avid angler was fishing near the white water park on the Arkansas River near Buena Vista, Richer said. The researcher noticed that he was catching more fish downstream of the man-made structure than he was as he worked his way upstream through the structure.
Researchers identified more than 40 white water parks across Colorado that are either already built or are in the planning stages. There are whitewater parks on the Colorado River near Glenwood Springs, the Roaring Fork near Basalt, the Ten Mile Creek in Frisco, the Pumphouse in Gore Canyon near Kremmling and dozens of other locations.
Read the full story from our partner at vaildail.com.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife re-released a wolf into Grand County this week after it had traveled into New Mexico, according to a news release.
The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish captured gray wolf 2403 and returned the animal to Colorado.
Colorado wildlife officials decided to release the wolf in Grand County yesterday because of the proximity to “an unpaired female gray wolf,” nearby prey populations and distance from livestock, according to the release.
“Gray wolf 2403 has been returned to Colorado and released in a location where it can best contribute to CPW’s efforts to establish a self-sustaining wolf population while concurrently attempting to minimize potential wolf-related livestock conflicts,” said acting director of CPW Laura Clellan, according to the release.
A memorandum of understanding between Colorado and Arizona, New Mexico and Utah requires that any gray wolves that leave Colorado and enter those states be returned. That was created in part to maintain the integrity of a Mexican wolf recovery program.
“We recognized during the planning process that we would need to have consideration and plans to protect the genetic integrity of the Mexican wolf recovery program, while also establishing a gray wolf population in Colorado,” said CPW’s Wolf Conservation Program Manager Eric Odell, according to the release.
State investigators are searching for suspects after the body of an illegally poached mountain lion was found abandoned in a Colorado canyon last week, according to wildlife officials.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife rangers responded to Taylor Canyon in Gunnison City Mountain Park on Friday after the mountain lion’s carcass was discovered near a group of campsites, according to a news release from the agency.
The mountain lion, which had been shot in the chest and left in the bushes, was previously part of the agency’s mountain lion density study in Gunnison Basin, wildlife officials said in the release.
During that study, researchers captured, marked, collared and monitored dozens of mountain lions across western Colorado, according to the agency. Nearly 100 animals were collared between Middle Park and Gunnison Basin.
“We are looking for leads or information anyone might have that could assist us with this investigation,” CPW District Wildlife Manager Codi Prior said in a statement. “Somebody killed this lion and then dumped its carcass.”
The poached mountain lion’s carcass was discovered three days before the start of legal mountain lion hunting season in Colorado. The season runs from Nov. 24 to March 31.
Anyone with information on the mountain lion or the people responsible is asked to contact Prior at 970-641-7075 or codi.prior@state.co.us, or CPW’s Gunnison wildlife office at 970-641-7060.
Tipsters who want to remain anonymous can contact Operation Game Thief — a Colorado Parks and Wildlife program that awards people who turn in poachers up to $1,000 — at 877-265-6648 or by email at game.thief@state.co.us.
Fall is the time of year when bears really begin to think with their stomachs.
Some will double their weight to prepare for wintertime hibernation, often scavenging for calories for up to 20 hours per day. This feeding frenzy, called hyperphagia, drives them farther from their usual range and into neighborhood dumpsters in search of easy meals.
That instinct led one hungry black bear to a South Lake Tahoe home across the Nevada border, surprising an 87-year-old man who had stepped into his garage for firewood before dawn Wednesday.
“The man retreated back into his house, and as he did that, the bear swiped at him and scratched his hand. Then the bear followed him into the home,” said Ashley Zeme, a spokesperson for the Nevada Department of Wildlife.
Moments later, the confused bear scratched the homeowner’s wife before bolting back outside after the couple’s granddaughter opened doors and windows to create an exit. Both residents were treated and released from the hospital with minor injuries.
Zeme said the incident was a rare escalation but one that nonetheless illustrated how fall hyperphagia reshapes bear behavior in the region.
“During hyperphagia, a bear entering a home would be more likely,” she said, noting that bears are seeking a staggering 20,000 to 25,000 calories a day as winter approaches. “Out in the wild, they’re trying to build up their calories through berries and insects. But when they come across garbage in a neighborhood, that’s all the calories they need in one spot.”
The best way to prevent bear encounters, she said, is by securing garbage and removing attractants such as bird feeders, pet food, coolers and barbecue grills.
Hyperphagia typically runs from August through November. During this period, bears dramatically expand their search radius, often pushing deeper into residential areas. Once a bear finds an easy reward, it tends to return and becomes progressively bolder, according to wildlife officials. In the Tahoe Basin, where bears have long learned that residents and vacationers bring dense, reliable calories, hyperphagia coincides with a surge in reports of trash raids, break-ins and, more infrequently, incidents like the one that occurred Wednesday.
“Once they get a food reward every time they go into a neighborhood, they’ll keep coming back for more,” Zeme said. “They have good memories and they’re smart.”
Zeme emphasized that the bear in this case appeared confused and startled, not predatory.
“This isn’t usual territory for a bear,” she said. “They’re not used to being in homes or garages. The bear was probably confused, spooked. Who knows what it was. But this wasn’t normal.”
Wildlife officials said roughly 90% of bear-related incidents originate with unsecured garbage, which is why it’s recommended that residents in bear-prone areas lock up trash and food in wildlife-resistant containers and avoid leaving bags outside. They also advise that locals keep vehicles free of food, lock doors and windows, and use electric fencing to protect beehives and chicken coops.
“We always see more bear activity this time of year,” Zeme said. “Securing attractants is the best way to keep them away.”
Cleanup was underway Wednesday in a wooded, remote area of Ventura County after about 420 gallons of crude oil inundated a waterway, officials said, and crews were working to beat the upcoming storm.
An above-ground storage tank operated by Carbon California spilled the oil into a remote tributary of Sisar Creek near Ojai, contaminating about three-quarters of a mile of the waterway, according to state wildlife officials.
Although the waterway and spill are small compared to some other major oil spills, “everything counts,” said Kristina Meris, a spokesperson for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response.
“There’s wildlife, there’s the environment, and people live in these areas,” she said. “We want to clean up everything we possibly can as quickly as we can safely.”
Initial reports of an oil spill were received Tuesday afternoon, Meris said. But steep terrain, limited road access and the approaching severe weather are complicating the cleanup.
Responders reached the creek bed Wednesday and “hit it pretty hard today,” Meris said, setting up a safety zone around the site. Officials will also conduct air quality tests to evaluate health hazards.
“It’s a super remote and super difficult area to get to,” Meris told The Times. “The only concern for the response tomorrow will be the bad weather coming in, so the safety of our responders could become an issue.”
The spill originated from a damaged gas tank owned by Carbon California, a company that operates oil and gas wells in the state, particularly in Ventura County. Officials said the cause remained under investigation, but the company has been designated the responsible party and is participating in a unified command with state and local agencies, which also includes personnel from the Environmental Protection Agency, Fish and Wildlife and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.
Cleanup teams are skimming and pumping oil from the tributary and deploying absorbent booms and pads to recover oil trapped along the creek bed. Crews have been able to contain much of the spill, Meris said, but storm conditions could hamper their efforts.
They expect to begin reporting recovery totals Thursday morning, though those numbers will likely reflect an “oily water mixture,” not pure crude. “Sometimes it can be a little bit higher than the number [of gallons spilled] because there will be water mixed in,” she said.
No wildlife had been reported harmed as of Wednesday evening, but Meris emphasized that swift response was critical to preventing harm.
“The quicker you respond, the quicker you get this cleaned up, the better for the environment,” she said.
The spill site is far from major roadways, part of what officials described as a rugged stretch of watershed feeding into Sisar Creek. Cleanup operations will pause overnight for safety but are expected to resume Thursday morning, weather permitting.
Officials did not immediately provide a timeline for a complete cleanup but said the response would continue until the creek met “established environmental endpoints” and recoverable oil product was removed.
California wildlife officials have confirmed there’s a new wolf pack in the northern part of the state, as the population of the endangered canids — and the number of livestock they have preyed on — continues to rise.
The freshly minted Grizzly pack is roaming southern Plumas County and consists of at least two adults and a pup, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife reported this week.
The pack consists of a male wolf that came over from Oregon and a female from the state’s Lassen pack. Recently, state wildlife officials also got photos of a wolf pup believed to be theirs.
The news comes on the heels of the Beyem Seyo pack’s demise last month, when the Fish and Wildlife Department euthanized four wolves that had killed a large number of cattle in the Sierra Valley — marking the first time in about a century that state officials had taken lethal action against the animals.
“As difficult of a decision as that was to make, from a conservation point of view, the population data that we’re getting does continue to suggest that the population is growing and is robust,” said Axel Hunnicutt, gray wolf coordinator for the agency. The action was taken after a months-long campaign of using nonlethal deterrents, he said.
The Beyem Seyo pack shifted to a new area in October, and new wolves quickly moved into their old stomping ground, one sign that the population is strong, he said.
With one pack gained and one pack lost, the state’s total remains at 10.
It’s estimated that there are about 50 to 70 wolves in the Golden State. Although it’s a relatively small number, it represents a stunning recovery for the apex predators, which were hunted and trapped into extinction in the 1920s. Wolves began recolonizing California only 14 years ago.
New reports from the Fish and Wildlife Department suggest more wolves are on the way.
There are two areas where wolf activity indicates packs are likely to form, Hunnicutt said. There were also at least 31 pups born this year to packs in California, though some have died, and mortality in general is high during the first year of life. The Whaleback pack, in eastern Siskiyou County, had 10 pups this year — tying a record for the species, Hunnicutt said. Another breeding season will arrive in spring.
Many of the current packs consist of just two wolves that are fairly young, which means they may not breed the first year. That creates “a lag,” he explained.
“So what I suspect is that this year we might not see a massive amount of growth, or it might just be steady,” he said. But in a year or two, “probably the vast majority of these groups will be breeding and producing anywhere between six and 10 pups.”
Wolves’ recovery is celebrated by conservationists who want to see the native animals thrive. The growing number of wolves, however, has rattled ranchers who lose cattle to them.
The Beyem Seyo pack was responsible for 88 livestock kills or injuries, which Hunnicutt called an “unprecedented” number. Not all wolves in the state go after cows, though. There are several packs in the state that aren’t near livestock, he noted.
“California wolf recovery is proceeding on a pretty good trajectory, population-wise,” Amaroq Weiss, senior wolf advocate with the nonprofit Center for Biological Diversity, said.
The fact that things get “shaken up,” with wolves dispersing and packs changing, is a good thing, she said.
“You want to see that dynamism continuing in an evolving population,” she said.
Weiss sees wolves’ recovery as a testament to their protection under both the California and federal Endangered Species acts.
There are three bills pending in the U.S. Congress, however, that would claw back federal protections, including one that would delist wolves as endangered nationwide, she said.
In 2021, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service delisted most wolves in the Lower 48. Weiss’ organization sued, and the following year a federal district court in California overturned the delisting. In September 2024, the federal wildlife agency appealed the decision.
If wolves were to be federally delisted, they would retain their state protections.
DEAR JOAN: There is something that I have noticed for years, and I finally decided to ask the only expert I know.
At the southbound Thornton Avenue exit to Interstate 880 in Newark, there are some power lines that extend all the way across the freeway. Every time I go that way I see many birds sitting on the lines, but only on the southbound side, never on the other side.
This is not a once-in-a-while thing; I’ve noticed it for many years.
I’ve never seen them fly away, they all just sit there. Can you think of anything special about these particular power lines?
Inquiring minds want to know.
— Sherry Hughes, Newark
DEAR SHERRY: Not being able to read bird minds, or the minds of any living beings, I can’t say for certain, although I’m sure they have an excellent reason. I can, however, list a few possibilities.
First off, birds really like sitting on elevated lines, whether those are power lines, telecommunication wires or cable lines. The high wires provide an excellent vantage point for surveying the area, giving them a bird’s eye view of the territory. From there, they can look around for food and watch out for predators.
The lines are also a convenient spot for taking a rest and as there are other birds on the line, a chance to converse. They come and go as they please, but it’s not likely they would all fly off at once unless something really frightened the entire flock. It might look like the birds sit there all day and night, but it’s a revolving cast.
Such gatherings also provide some communal support and protection from predators, and in the winter, the combined flocks can offer a little extra warmth.
Considering how much power is surging through the lines, we have to wonder how the birds can casually perch on them and avoid electrocution. The answer? Science.
Just like water, and nature itself, electricity seeks a balance. It flows from high energy points to low energy points. A bird sitting on the wire doesn’t interrupt or redirect the flow, but if it was to have one foot on the wire (high energy) and another on the ground (low energy), the electricity would seek to balance, redirecting through the bird to complete the circuit, with deadly consequences. The birds are remarkably exact about the positioning on the lines, keeping a small but equal distance between them, and avoiding touching anything else.
Why the birds choose one wire and not the other most likely has to do with environmental factors. The wind might be stronger on that side, the wires might not provide the same vantage point, or there could be something on that side of the freeway or the lines themselves, that the birds just don’t care for.
The birds like a clear pathway when they fly off the wire, and the ones on the northbound side might be more advantageous.
Wish we knew for certain, but maybe one day the birds will talk.
The Animal Life column runs on Mondays. Contact Joan Morris at AskJoanMorris@gmail.com.
It’s hard to believe Walden Ponds Wildlife Habitat used to be a gravel pit.
Walden Ponds Wildlife Habitat attracts plenty of wildlife, including a large number of migrating birds in the winter. (Ben Siebrase, Special to The Denver Post)
These days, the 100-acre refuge, at 5201 St. Vrain Road in Boulder County, attracts plenty of wildlife, including a large number of migrating birds that come for five on-site ponds knit together with 2.9 miles of flat, scenic trail.
Even on a cold December morning, it’s worth bundling up to see what’s fluttering through the reclaimed wetlands. Not far from Longmont’s municipal airport, Pella Crossing, a mile south of Hygiene, on the east side of North 75th Street, delivers a similar scene – industrial strip mines transformed into a peaceful haven.
Feeling unseasonably hopeful, I once took my young kids birding at Walden Ponds. The hobby requires a certain level of patience and quiet – not exactly our family’s strong suits. Despite near-constant reminders, my offspring produce their own special calls: a cacophonous blend of screeches, giggles, and bickering that clears a marsh faster than you can say :white-tailed Ptarmigan.” Still, after scattering every sparrow in sight, we caught an unexpected break on the drive out.
“Look,” my husband said, pulling over near Wally Toevs Pond. There were two golden eagles perched on a utility pole, primary feathers ruffling in the cold breeze. I fumbled for my phone, snapped a terrible, zoomed-in photo, and then, finally, we all fell silent.
Car birding
When I told lifelong Colorado birder Peter Burke about this, he wasn’t remotely surprised: “Golden eagles,” he explains, “like to nest on cliffs in the mountains, but they come down here for the winter and often perch on telephone poles while hunting prairie dogs.”
Burke, who founded the guide company Rocky Mountain Birding and currently edits the quarterly journal Colorado Birds, approved of our drive-by-birding technique. In fact, car birding is one of his go-to strategies.
You’re less likely to flush a bird this way. “Humans have the profile of a predator,” he notes. But cars? They’re more like big, slow cows – not particularly threatening.
As a bonus, you’ll be warm in your car on a chilly day. The main message I got when I called up a handful of Colorado’s expert birders is that you truly don’t have to travel far from Denver, especially once the temperature drops.
For some species, we’re south
As Jacob Job from Bird Conservancy of the Rockies puts it, “Winter birding is often overlooked.” That’s a shame because we get a whole new influx of species this time of year. (And it’s worth noting that as milder winters caused by climate change reshape migration patterns, some birds are sticking it out: mountain bluebirds, for instance, can now be spotted here all year long.)
We have an image of migratory birds flying south for the winter, but Colorado’s Front Range is south for many species, including raptors, cackling geese (a close cousin to the Canada goose), and rough-legged hawks, which breed in tundra way above the Arctic Circle then vacation in sunny Colorado. Other birds have an elevational migration within the Centennial State. Northern pigmy owls, for example, propagate in the mountains before coming to the foothills.
This time of year, Colorado birders are primarily searching for raptors, waterfowl and sparrows. Where you go will largely depend on what you’re hoping to spot, explains Burke.
Burke’s a fan of towhees. “They’re big, sparrow-like birds,” he tells me.
When I ask, “Spotted towhees?” he shoots back, “Are you a birder?”
Busted. I admit that I just Googled it.
Red Crossbills at Echo Lake on Mount Evans, 2012. (Peter Burke, Special to The Denver Post)
“I’m not a confident birder,” I say.
Burke laughs: “Really, it just comes down to curiosity and how much time you put into it,” he said. After a beat, he chirps, “And good binoculars!”
He recommends I spend, at minimum, $300 for a nice pair. When I ask Burke where I should take those fancy-pants binocs, he tells me that while lots of people don’t consider Red Rocks, at 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, a birding destination, it can be an excellent place for sparrows and towhees – plus the cliffs are home to nesting prairie falcons.
Follow the prairie dogs
Most of us love big birds. Raptors – and their humungous nests – are much easier to observe in winter-bare trees, explains community naturalist Dave Sutherland, who leads free – and absolutely fantastic – public classes for birders of all ages and skill levels. Visit davesutherland.co for details, and consider joining his upcoming “Hawk Walk” on Saturday, Dec. 13, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. (No cost, but reservations are needed.)
If you’re keen to watch bald eagles in the wild, try Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge at 6550 Gateway Road, a former chemical weapons manufacturing facility that was cleaned up in the 1980s before earning its protected status in 1992, soon after a roost of bald eagles was spotted on the premises.
The refuge hosts bison herds (try the wildlife drive!), a black-footed ferret exhibit, and plenty of prairie dogs. “Any place with a thriving prairie dog town will be a good place to see raptors,” said Sutherland, noting that “people love to hate on prairie dogs, but if you like birds of prey, you need to make peace with them.”
Ferruginous hawks, for example, are prairie dog specialists from Canada and North Dakota, and their numbers are in decline because we’ve wiped out prairie dog colonies on the Eastern Plains.
In addition to raptors – eagles plus ferruginous, rough-legged and Harlan’s hawks – Rocky Mountain Arsenal, with its sprawling plains, provides habitat for a variety of additional species, including white-crowned sparrows and dark-eyed junco.
Explore reservoirs
As long as they’re not frozen over, reservoirs – “pop-up habitat for waterfowl,” Burke said – are another place where bird enthusiasts can’t go wrong. Sutherland and Burke recommend Chatfield State Park, at 11500 N. Roxborough Park Road, home to the Kingery Nature Center, part of Denver Audubon’s holdings.
A Bohemian Waxwing in Boulder, 2013. (Peter Burke, Special to The Denver Post)
In Brighton, meanwhile, there’s Barr Lake State Park, 13401 Picadilly Road, another premium spot, where dozens of bald eagles overwinter. Bonus: Barr Lake puts on a variety of bird-themed walks, talks, and events throughout the year; for details, visit cpw.state.co.us/events and filter by park.
You’ll need a state-parks pass to enter Barr Lake and Chatfield in a vehicle, and Colorado Parks & Wildlife public information officer Bridget O’Rourke wants Coloradans to know that free passes are available through all Colorado public libraries. They’re tucked inside CPW’s “Adventure Backpacks,” which are available to rent anytime – and super fun for kids.
At Aurora Reservoir, 5800 S. Powhaton Road, look for “five to seven species of gulls, including a few rare ones,” Burke said, noting that these long-winged aquatic beauties spend the entire winter in the area, sleeping on ice then flying to the landfill to pick at garbage heaps before returning to the water to bathe. Be aware: Aurora Reservoir is not a Colorado State Park, and you’ll need a $10 day pass to enter (that’s the off-season rate).
Eight minutes north of Niwot, there’s Lagerman Reservoir inside Lagerman Agricultural Preserve, 7100 Pike Road. “It’s the ugliest little reservoir you ever saw, and for some reason birds love it,” Sutherland gushes. The 1.6-mile Lagerman Trail is closed through Dec. 31 for construction and will reopen to birders in the new year.
Reservoirs are popular hang-outs for other waterfowl, too, including the common goldeneye and Barrow’s goldeneye – “a really neat diving duck,” Burke said, that you’ll spot mixed in with mallards, northern shovelers and teals. Gulls can’t dive, so they like to swim with goldeneyes and try to steal their lunch. “It’s a game played out on Colorado reservoirs all winter long,” said Burke.
At Waterton Canyon, you’re likely to spot American dippers, a songbird about the size of a robin that spends its life in rivers and mostly hunts underwater. (Ben Siebrase, Special to The Denver Post)
Hole up on streams
If you want to see a variety of ducks, Sutherland will direct you to Prospect Park in Wheat Ridge, at W. 44th Ave. and Robb streets, where birders can sit tight along Clear Creek.
Waterton Canyon, just south of the intersection of Waterton Road and Glenn L. Martin Boulevard, is another excellent option. Beyond the famed bighorn sheep, you’re liable to spy American dippers, a songbird about the size of a robin that spends its entire life in rivers and mostly hunts underwater.
“Anything along Boulder Creek you can get dippers,” Job added, also recommending Eldorado Canyon State Park, at 9 Kneale Road, and Lair ‘o the Bear Park, at 22550 State Highway 74, the latter a kid-friendly gem in Idledale.
Try state wildlife areas
If you aren’t sure where to go, check out one of CPW’s 350-plus State Wildlife Areas – “the hidden gems of public lands,” as O’Rourke put it. You’ll need a special SWA recreational pass to enter these protected swaths, which are open to hunters and wildlife viewers alike.
But don’t let the hunting deter you: SWAs attract winter owls, including long-eared, pygmy, and screech varietals, said Job. If you try an SWA, do wear very bright colors during open season. Fluorescent orange and pink will do the trick.
To uncover SWAs in your area, check out CPW’s online map, at cpw.state.co.us/swa-finder. And don’t miss the state agency’s nature viewing page, which is packed with useful information for local birders.
Speaking of owls, the last couple of years, there have been snowy owls at Denver International Airport. If you have winter travel plans that include a flight, this might be a good reason to arrive at the airport extra early.
Be a homebody
Front Range residents won’t have to leave home for good birding. “I love dark-eyed juncos,” said Job. Denver gets four to five subspecies in the wintertime. Job added, “They’ll come to the house to hang out by feeders.”
Putting out bird feeders can be a lifeline for migrating birds, and a thoughtful setup keeps feeders truly bird-friendly. Burke recommends placing feeders near bushes or trees, so visitors have quick cover from predators like hawks. It’s easy to protect birds from window collisions by adding visual cues like hanging cords or UV decals to large windows.
All the experts agree that it’s important to keep feeders clean. Wash them with soap and water every few weeks (or when refilling) to prevent diseases; gloves are recommended. A pro tip: If you have problems with squirrels in your feeders, try mixing seed with cayenne pepper. Birds don’t react to the spicy chemical compound but squirrels hate it.
If this sounds like a lot of work, you can always throw seed on the ground. Juncos and towhees happily eat ground seed.
A birding shelter at Fossil Creek Reservoir offers interpretive signs. (Jamie Siebrase, Special to The Denver Post)
Involve the kids
Longtime Colorado birder Carmela Coyle, bestselling author of the “Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots?” series for kids, has a new picture book coming out in January, just in time for winter birding. Read “Anyone Else Awake? A Dawn Chorus” (Muddy Boots publishing) with the kids in your life, then explore Coyle’s favorite hotspots – both close enough to count as backyard birding for Denverites.
In Littleton, there’s Ketring Park, at 6028 S. Gallup St., where the quarter-mile dirt trail around Wetland Loop is perfect for very young explorers. Coyle also recommends the Stone House Trail at Bear Creek Greenbelt Park, 2800 S. Estes St. “Park in the lot off of South Estes Street,” Coyle said, “and proceed west to the narrower dirt trails to the south through trees and brush.”
Field wisdom
You’re bundling up and heading out because you want to see some plumage, no? These pro tips help ensure a successful outing.
If a bird changes its behavior because of you, you’re too close. Use binoculars, instead of your feet, to get a better look, and remember: Winter birds are here to rest and refuel, not perform.
While apps like Merlin are great tools, overusing playback can stress out our migratory birds, sending them searching for threats that aren’t there. Let the landscape speak first, and use calls sparingly.
Don’t forget to stay on designated trails and obey private property signs. Birders should always strive to be great stewards of the land.
The birds are waiting. Grab your binoculars, and let’s see what winter on the Front Range has to offer.
Kensington resident Barbara Ruben says the yips, howls and barks of coyotes that she heard outside of her home on Nov. 4 were “unnerving.”
Ruben told Bethesda Today on Monday that she had not previously encountered coyotes but had seen social media posts from her Kensington neighbors about various sightings. One neighbor even reported being followed by the creature while walking their dog, she said.
“You could hear them in the house pretty loudly,” Ruben said. “I opened the window and I recorded them, because they almost sounded like a dog fight. They were also doing some howling as well.”
