Along with heading to the mountains to see the gold aspen leaves, a must-do for a lot of Coloradans in the fall is to hear bull elk bugle. The male elk’s high-pitched bellow signals the start of the rut — mating season — and is a beckoning call for wildlife-watchers and a harbinger for hunters of the chase to come.
But a new analysis by a sportsmen’s group says the Rocky Mountain icon is increasingly under pressure from human encroachment into the areas it uses to migrate, seek food and shelter, and give birth. The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership’s report looks at the impact of the state’s booming outdoor recreation and the more than 40,000 miles of mapped trails used by hikers, mountain bikers, ATV riders and others.
kAm}62C=J c_T @7 E96 >@DE :>A@CE2?E 6=< 923:E2E DE2E6H:56 :56?E:7:65 :? E96 C6A@CE @G6C=2AD H:E9 EC2:=D[ C6DF=E:?8 :? E96 2?:>2=D A@E6?E:2==J 2G@:5:?8 >@C6 E92? g >:==:@? @FE @7 ?62C=J aa >:==:@? 24C6D] %96 2?2=JD:D H2C?D E92E E9C62ED E@ E9@D6 2C62D 42? F?56C>:?6 E96 962=E9 @7 E96 2?:>2=’D A@AF=2E:@?[ E96 H@C=5’D =2C86DE 6=< 96C5]k^Am
kAm“x E9:?< E96 >@DE :>A@CE2?E >6DD286 :D E92E E96C6 2C6 :>A24ED E@ 2== @7 @FC C64C62E:@?2= AFCDF:ED[” D2:5 {:K #@D6[ E96 r@=@C25@ 7:6=5 C6AC6D6?E2E:G6 7@C %#r!]k^Am
kAm%96 AC6DDFC6D @? 6=< 2C6 6?@F89 @7 2 4@?46C? E92E r@=@C25@ !2C<D 2?5 (:=5=:76 :D DEF5J:?8 H9J E96 ?F>36C @7 6=< 42=G6D E92E 2C6 3@C? 2?5 DFCG:G6 E@ 25F=E9@@5 :D 564=:?:?8 :? A2CED @7 E96 DE2E6]k^Am
kAmp a_a_ 6I64FE:G6 @C56C 3J v@G] y2C65 !@=:D 6DE23=:D965 E96 r@=@C25@ ~FE5@@C #68:@?2= !2CE?6CD9:AD x?:E:2E:G6 E@ AC@>@E6 =@42= 2?5 DE2E6H:56 H@C< @? 32=2?4:?8 C64C62E:@? H:E9 4@?D6CG2E:@?] $@ 72C[ 4@2=:E:@?D 92G6 C646:G65 2 E@E2= @7 23@FE S`]b >:==:@? 7C@> r@=@C25@ !2C<D 2?5 (:=5=:76 2?5 vC62E ~FE5@@CD r@=@C25@]k^Am
kAm#64C62E:@? E:65 E@ H:=5=:76 — 9F?E:?8[ 7:D9:?8[ E@FC:D> — :D 3:8 3FD:?6DD :? r@=@C25@] xE 86?6C2E6D Sd 3:==:@? 2 J62C 2?5 DFAA@CED c_[___ ;@3D] %96 6DE:>2E65 b_h[___ 6=< E92E C@2> r@=@C25@ >2<6 E96 DE2E6 2 9F?E:?8 2?5 H:=5=:76\H2E49:?8 56DE:?2E:@?]k^Am
kAm%96 %#r! C6A@CE 2=D@ 24<?@H=6586D @FE5@@C C64C62E:@?’D 9F86 64@?@>:4 4@?EC:3FE:@?] ~FE5@@C C64C62E:@? 4@?EC:3FE65 Sh]e 3:==:@? E@ r@=@C25@’D 64@?@>J :? a_a_ 2?5 DFAA@CE65 `a_[_eb ;@3D 24C@DD E96 DE2E6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 &]$] qFC62F @7 t4@?@>:4 p?2=JD:D]k^Am
kAm%96 C6A@CE C64@>>6?5D H2JD E@ 32=2?46 H:=5=:76 4@?D6CG2E:@? H:E9 E96 56>2?5 7@C @FE5@@C C64C62E:@? @AA@CEF?:E:6D[ H9:49 :D :?4C62D:?8=J :>A@CE2?E 7@C =@42= 64@?@>:6D]k^Am
kAm“%96C6 2C6 @AE:@?D 286?4:6D 42? E2<6 :? A=2??:?8 E@ >2<6 DFC6 E92E H6’C6 ?@E ;6@A2C5:K:?8 E96 =@?8\E6C> DE23:=:EJ @7 E96 82>6 96C5D :? r@=@C25@[ E92E H6’C6 23=6 E@ DFDE2:? E96 @FE5@@C C64C62E:@? :?5FDECJ[ 64@?@>J 2?5 82>6 96C5D[” #@D6 D2:5]k^Am
kAm%#r!’D C64@>>6?52E:@?D :?4=F56 2G@:5:?8 E96 9:896DE\AC:@C:EJ 6=< 923:E2ED H96? A=2??:?8 EC2:=D H96C6G6C A@DD:3=6j =:>:E:?8 C@25 2?5 EC2:= FD6 5FC:?8 E96 E:>6D @7 J62C H96? 6=< @C @E96C 3:8 82>6 2?:>2=D 2C6 AC6D6?E :7 ?@E 3F:=5:?8 :? E96 2C62 :D?’E A@DD:3=6j 2?5 =:>:E:?8 E96 56?D:EJ @7 C@25D 2?5 EC2:=D H96C6 D62D@?2= 4=@DFC6D 2C6?’E AC24E:42=]k^Am
kAmr@=@C25@ 92D 366? 2 =6256C :? 7@4FD:?8 @? E96 67764ED @7 @:= 2?5 82D 56G6=@A>6?E @? H:=5=:76 923:E2E[ D2:5 |256=6:?6 (6DE[ 5:C64E@C @7 %#r!’D r6?E6C 7@C !F3=:4 {2?5D]k^Am
kAm“%96C6’D 2 =@E @7 D4:6?46 2?5 AF3=:4 2H2C6?6DD 2C@F?5 E92E :DDF6] (92E H6’C6 ECJ:?8 E@ AC6D6?E :D E92E E96C6 :D D4:6?46 2C@F?5 E96 :>A24ED 7C@> C64C62E:@?2= EC2:=D[ E@@[” (6DE D2:5]k^Am
kAmp? :>>65:2E6 :>A24E E92E %#r! 9@A6D :ED C6A@CE >2<6D :D @? E96 qFC62F @7 {2?5 |2?286>6?E[ H9:49 >2?286D g]b >:==:@? 24C6D @7 7656C2= AF3=:4 =2?5D :? r@=@C25@ 2?5 af >:==:@? 24C6D @7 7656C2= >:?6C2=D F?56C 7656C2=[ DE2E6 2?5 AC:G2E6 =2?5D] %96 q{| :D 4@?D:56C:?8 492?86D E@ :ED =2?5\FD6 A=2?D :? r@=@C25@ E@ :?4=F56 4@?D6CG2E:@? @7 3:8 82>6 >:8C2E:@? 4@CC:5@CD 2?5 923:E2E :? 564:D:@?D @? @:= 2?5 82D 56G6=@A>6?E]k^Am
kAm“%96 q{| =67E E96 5@@C @A6? 7@C 4@>>6?ED @? H96E96C @E96C FD6D D9@F=5 36 4@?D:56C65] (6 D2:5 C64C62E:@? :D @?6 @7 E96 @E96C 24E:G:E:6D @? E96 =2?5D42A6 E92E D9@F=5 36 2?2=JK65 :7 E96 AFCA@D6 :D C62==J E@ 4@?D6CG6 2?5 >2:?E2:? 3:8 82>6 923:E2E[” (6DE D2:5]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mu2C 7C@> E96k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m362E6? A2E9Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm$6G6C2= H:=5=:76 DA64:6D 7246 8C@H:?8 @3DE24=6D 2D r@=@C25@’D 9F>2? A@AF=2E:@? 8C@HD] %96J 7246 5:DEFC32?46D 2?5 =@DD @7 923:E2E 7C@> ?6H 9@>6D 2?5 C@25D[ 6?6C8J 56G6=@A>6?E[ 5C@F89E 2?5 4=:>2E6 492?86] p a_a` C6A@CE 3J E96 }2E:@?2= (:=5=:76 u656C2E:@? 2?5 r@?D6CG2E:@? $4:6?46 !2CE?6CD D2:5 H:=5=:76 E92E 2C6 9F?E65 =@DE @? 2G6C286 e]d >:==:@? 24C6D @7 G:E2= 923:E2E @G6C E96 A2DE EH@ 564256D]k^Am
kAm(96? :E 4@>6D E@ C64C62E:@?[ >F49 @7 E96 C6D62C49 92D 46?E6C65 @? 6=<[ D2:5 y@? w@=DE[ E96 H:=5=:76 2?5 6?6C8J D6?:@C 25G:D6C 2E %#r!]k^Am
kAm“t=< D66> A2CE:4F=2C=J =:<6 2 42?2CJ :? 2 4@2= >:?6 7@C EC2:=\32D65 5:DEFC32?46] %96J D66> A2CE:4F=2C=J D6?D:E:G6 E@ EC2:= FD6[” D2:5 w@=DE[ 2 H:=5=:76 3:@=@8:DE 7@C>6C=J H:E9 r@=@C25@ !2C<D 2?5 (:=5=:76]k^Am
kAm#6D62C49 AF3=:D965 :? a_`g 2?5 =65 3J E96 &]$] u@C6DE $6CG:46 =@@<65 2E 9@H 72C 2H2J 6=< DE2J65 7C@> C64C62E:@? EC2:=D] %96 5:DE2?46 G2C:65 32D65 @? E96 EJA6 @7 C64C62E:@?i `[fhd\a[`fa 766E 7C@> 9:<6CD 2?5 >@F?E2:? 3:<6 C:56CDj 23@FE a[ggc 766E 7C@> p%'D]k^Am
kAm!C@3=6>D @44FC H96? E96 2C62D 6=< 2G@:5 2C6 E96:C 3:CE9:?8 8C@F?5D[ >:8C2E:@? 4@CC:5@CD 2?5 =2?5 H:E9 D96=E6C 2?5 7@@5 :? H:?E6C 2?5 DF>>6C C2?86 :? E96 >@F?E2:?D]k^Am
kAm#64C62E:@?2= EC2:= FD6 :? r@=@C25@ 8C6H 3J ccT 36EH66? a_`c 2?5 a_`h[ 2 a_`h C6A@CE 3J r@=@C25@ !2C<D 2?5 (:=5=:76 7@F?5] %96 %#r! 2?2=JD:D H2D 32D65 @? E96 9:89\AC:@C:EJ 923:E2E :56?E:7:65 3J DE2E6 H:=5=:76 6IA6CED 2?5 EC2:=D =:DE65 @? E96 r@=@C25@ %C2:= tIA=@C6C AC@G:565 3J E96 DE2E6]k^Am
kAmw@=DE D2:5 E96 2?2=JD:D 5@6D?’E D9@H E92E D@>6 EC2:=D 2C6 4=@D65 2E 46CE2:? E:>6D @7 E96 J62C E@ =:>:E E96 5:DEFC32?46 @? H:=5=:76]k^Am
kAm“%96 7=:A D:56 :D E96C6 2C6 2 =@E @7 F?>2AA65[ FD6C\4C62E65 EC2:=D[” w@=DE D2:5] “(92E’D :? @FC 2?2=JD:D :D C62==J 2? F?56C6DE:>2E6 @7 9@H >2?J EC2:=D 2C6 @FE E96C6]”k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m~?8@:?8 4@?D6CG2E:@?k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm(:=5=:76 2?5 =2?5\>2?286>6?E 286?4:6D 92G6 366? E2=<:?8 7@C 2 H9:=6 23@FE H92E :?4C62D:?8 @FE5@@C C64C62E:@? >62?D 7@C H:=5=:76[ D2:5 s@F8 ':=D24<[ 5:C64E@C @7 E96 r@=@C25@ @77:46 @7 E96 qFC62F @7 {2?5 |2?286>6?E]k^Am
kAm“(6 D2H 2 b_T :?4C62D6 :? C64C62E:@? :? a_a_” @? q{| =2?5D[ D2:5 ':=D24<[ 7@C>6C=J H:E9 E96 r@=@C25@ s6A2CE>6?E @7 }2EFC2= #6D@FC46D] “%96 =2DE 4@FA=6 @7 J62CD[ H6’G6 D66? 2 ab E@ adT :?4C62D6 J62C :?[ J62C @FE]”k^Am
kAmp? 6DE:>2E65 h]e >:==:@? A6@A=6 G:D:E65 q{|\>2?2865 =2?5 :? r@=@C25@ :? a_`h[ DA@<6D>2? $E6G6? w2== D2:5 :? 2? 6>2:=] ':D:E2E:@? D9@E FA E@ `a]d >:==:@? :? a_a_]k^Am
kAm~FE5@@C C64C62E:@? C2E6D D<JC@4<6E65 ?2E:@?H:56 27E6C r~'xs\`h C6DEC:4E:@?D D9FE 5@H? @E96C 7@C>D @7 6?E6CE2:?>6?E] %96 ~FE5@@C x?5FDECJ pDD@4:2E:@? D2:5 dbT @7 p>6C:42?D e 2?5 @=56C C64C62E65 @FE5@@CD 2E =62DE @?46 :? a_a_[ E96 9:896DE C2E6 @? C64@C5]k^Am
kAm%96 q{| EC24<D 24E:G:EJ 2E 56D:8?2E65 42>A8C@F?5D 2?5 C64C62E:@? D:E6D[ 3FE ':=D24< D2:5 E96 DE277 <?@HD A6@A=6 2C6 2=D@ @FE @? F?@77:4:2= D:E6D] p?5 E96 q{| 24<?@H=6586D :ED >2AD 5@?’E D9@H E96 EC2:=D A6@A=6 92G6 4C62E65 @? E96:C @H?]k^Am
kAm%96 q{| :D FA52E:?8 :ED r@=@C25@ =2?5\FD6 A=2?D 2D A2CE @7 2 D6EE=6>6?E @7 2 =2HDF:E 3J E96 DE2E6 @G6C AC@E64E:@?D 7@C H:=5=:76 2?5 ?2EFC2= C6D@FC46D] ':=D24< D2:5 E96 q{| >FDE HC2A FA E96 H@C< 3J >:5\a_ab 2?5 :E’D F?4=62C :7 E96 2>6?5>6?E E@ E96 A=2?D H:== 6IA=@C6 C64C62E:@?’D :>A24ED]k^Am
kAm“%96C6’D 2 4=62C 7@4FD @? @:= 2?5 82D 2?5 2 E:>6=:?6[ 3FE 3C@25=J 7@4FD:?8 @? E96D6 C64C62E:@?2= :>A24ED :D 2 AC:@C:EJ 7@C q{| :? E9:D DE2E6[” ':=D24< D2:5]k^Am
kAmr@=@C25@’D 6=< 96C5 A@AF=2E:@? @7 2AAC@I:>2E6=J b_h[___ 92D 366? DE23=6 E96 A2DE 76H J62CD[ 3FE E@E2= ?F>36CD 5@?’E E6== E96 H9@=6 DE@CJ[ D2:5 p?5J w@==2?5[ r!( 3:8 82>6 >2?286C] %96C6 92G6 366? 23@FE a_ J62CD @7 564=:?6D :? 4@H\42=7 C2E:@Di E96 ?F>36C @7 42=G6D A6C `__ 76>2=6 6=<]k^Am
kAm“xE E6==D FD 9@H >2?J 42=G6D H6C6 3@C? 2?5 9@H >2?J DFCG:G65 F?E:= y2?F2CJ[” w@==2?5 D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 A2DE `g J62CD[ r!( 92D 5C2>2E:42==J 4FE E96 ?F>36C @7 9F?E:?8 =:46?D6D 7@C 4@H 6=< E@ DE23:=:K6 E96 A@AF=2E:@?] %96 286?4J :D 2=D@ C6D62C49:?8 H9J E96 4@H\42=7 C2E:@D 2C6 =@H :? 46CE2:? A2CED @7 E96 DE2E6] w@==2?5 D2:5 E96 C62D@?D =:<6=J 5:776C 7C@> 2C62 E@ 2C62i 5C@F89E[ 6?6C8J 56G6=@A>6?E[ AC652E@CD 2?5 @FE5@@C C64C62E:@?]k^Am
kAm“#64C62E:@? :D 2 4@?46C? @7 @FCD[” w@==2?5 D2:5] “%96 ?F>36C @7 A6@A=6 @FE 6?;@J:?8 E96 @FE5@@CD @7 r@=@C25@ 92D 366? :?4C62D:?8 2?5 D@ 92D @FC 4@?46C?]”k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8ms62E9 3J 2 E9@FD2?5 4FEDk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmp2C@? z:?5=6[ E96 r@=@C25@\32D65 5:C64E@C @7 DA@CE:?8 25G@424J 7@C E96 }2E:@?2= (:=5=:76 u656C2E:@?[ D2:5 E96 %#r! C6A@CE 5@6D 2 8@@5 ;@3 @7 BF2?E:7J:?8 E96 67764ED @7 C64C62E:@? EC2:=D @? 6=<]k^Am
kAm“(6’G6 925 E9:D 6G6CJ3@5J\86E\@FED:56 >6?E2=:EJ[ H9:49 :D 8C62E] (6 H2?E A6@A=6 @FED:56[” z:?5=6 D2:5]k^Am
kAmqFE E96 2AAC@AC:2E6 EJA6 @7 >2?286>6?E 2?5 7F?5:?8 2C6 ?66565 E@ 92?5=6 E96 DFC86 :? @FE5@@C C64C62E:@?[ z:?5=6 D2:5]k^Am
kAm“xE’D C62==J 562E9 3J 2 E9@FD2?5 4FED] *@F 92G6 2== E96D6 D>2== CFC2= E@H?D 8C@H:?8 :?E@ A=246D =:<6 WH:=5=:76X H:?E6C C2?86[” z:?5=6 D2:5]k^Am
kAmsFC:?8 E96 A2?56>:4[ A6@A=6 H9@ 4@F=5 H@C< C6>@E6=J DE2CE65 >@G:?8 E@ A=246D =:<6 r@=@C25@ 3642FD6 E96J 4@F=5 =:G6 2?JH96C6 2?5 E96J =:<65 E96 =:76DEJ=6[ z:?5=6 25565] “%9:?8D 2C6 4@>:?8 E@ 2 9625]”k^Am
kAmx? #@FEE r@F?EJ[ >@F?E2:? 3:<6 C:56CD 92G6 366? H2:E:?8 7@C 7@C 24E:@? @? 2 AC@A@D2= 7@C >@C6 EC2:=D] %96 EC2:=D[ E@ 36 7:?2?465 H:E9 C6G6?F6 7C@> 2 =@42=[ G@E6C\2AAC@G65 =@58:?8 E2I[ 92G6 366? :? E96 H@C<D 7@C D6G6C2= J62CD[ D2:5 rC2:8 uC:E9D6?[ AC6D:56?E @7 #@FEE r@F?EJ #:56CD[ H9:49 25G@42E6D 7@C >@F?E2:? 3:<6 C:56CD :? ?@CE9H6DE #@FEE r@F?EJ]k^Am
kAm%96 D@\42==65 |25 #233:E AC@;64E 42==65 7@C C@F89=J d_ >:=6D @7 ?6H EC2:=D :? E96 #@FEE }2E:@?2= u@C6DE E92E H@F=5 4@??64E E96 |25 rC66< 2C62 E@ #233:E t2CD !2DD] $@>6 A=2??65 EC2:=D 92G6 366? 5C@AA65 3642FD6 @7 4@?46C?D 23@FE 6=< 923:E2E] %96 u@C6DE $6CG:46 :D AC6A2C:?8 2? 6?G:C@?>6?E2= C6G:6H @7 E96 AC@;64E 2?5 :D 86EE:?8 :?AFE 7C@> DE2E6 H:=5=:76 @77:4:2=D]k^Am
kAm“%96C6 C62==J 92D?’E 366? 2 =@E @7 EC2:= 56G6=@A>6?E @? AF3=:4 =2?5 H:E9 >@F?E2:? 3:<6D :? >:?5 C6=2E:G6 E@ E96 6IA=@D:G6 A@AF=2C:EJ @7 E96>[” uC:E9D6? D2:5]k^Am
kAmtI:DE:?8 EC2:=D 2C6 4=@D65 7@C A6C:@5D E@ 2==@H 6=< E@ FD6 46CE2:? 2C62D[ uC:E9D6? D2:5] $@>6 @7 E96 AC@A@D65 EC2:=D 2C6 @AA@D65 3J z66A #@FEE (:=5[ H9:49 :?4=F56D 9F?E6CD 2?5 H:=5=:76 25G@42E6D] {2CCJ s6D;2C5:?[ 2 9F?E6C 2?5 >@F?E2:? 3:<6C[ :D E96 8C@FA’D AC6D:56?E] w6 D2:5 E96 u@C6DE $6CG:46 D9@F=5 HC:E6 2? 6?G:C@?>6?E2= :>A24E DE2E6>6?E 7@C E96 EC2:= AC@A@D2= 3642FD6 D@>6 @7 E96 =2?5 :D :? C@25=6DD 2C62D]k^Am
kAmp? 6?G:C@?>6?E2= :>A24E DE2E6>6?E H@F=5 36 >@C6 4@>AC696?D:G6 2?5 =:<6=J E2<6 =@?86C E92? E96 C6G:6H A=2??65 3J E96 286?4J] %96 AF3=:4 H:== 92G6 2 492?46 E@ 4@>>6?E H96? E96 5C27E C6G:6H :D C6=62D65]k^Am
kAmuC:E9D6? D2:5 96 ECFDED E96 286?:46D E@ 4@>6 FA H:E9 E9 36DE A=2?] w6 D2:5 E96 4J4=:?8 8C@FA 92D ?@E9:?8 282:?DE 9F?E:?8 2?5 :D 4@?46C?65 23@FE H:=5=:76[ 3FE 36=:6G6D >@F?E2:? 3:<6CD 2C6 36:?8 D:?8=65 @FE]k^Am
kAm“(6 766= 9F?E:?8 :D E@E2==J =68:E:>2E6 C64C62E:@?[ 3FE H6 5@ 92G6 :DDF6D H:E9 9F?E:?8 8C@FAD E92E ECJ E@ =:>:E @C AC6G6?E 2446DD E@ AF3=:4 =2?5D 3J @E96C FD6C 8C@FAD[” uC:E9D6? D2:5]k^Am
kAmqFE w@=DE H:E9 %#r! D2:5 76H6C 6=< H@F=5?’E 36 2 =@DD ;FDE 7@C 9F?E6CD] “x7 H6 5:5?’E 92G6 E9:D :4@?:4[ H@C=5\C6?@H?65 C6D@FC46[ H6’G6 =@DE D@>6E9:?8[ D@>6E9:?8 E92E >2<6D r@=@C25@ r@=@C25@]”k^Am