Global warming's toll on wildlife in Colorado
Hunters support workshops on habitat, feed loss
By Bill Scanlon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published September 24, 2008 at 11:21 a.m.
Updated September 24, 2008 at 11:54 p.m.
Photo by Ken Papaleo © The Rocky
A bull elk holds up traffic on Hwy 74 in Evergreen, while he herds his cows across the road in September.
Too little snow to track elk, water too warm for trout's liking, and birds at higher elevations than they were a decade ago.
Global warming is real enough to Colorado's anglers and hunters that they have embraced an idea by an environmental group to hold workshops on how to deal with changing and dwindling habitat where they hunt and fish.
"Wildlife at a Crossroads: Conserving Colorado's Wildlife Heritage and Promoting a New Energy Future" is holding workshops today in Denver, Friday in Grand Junction and Oct. 25 in Alamosa.
The workshops are sponsored by the Colorado Wildlife Federation and Trout Unlimited, and have the support of most of the large hunting, fishing and bird- watching groups in the state.
"In my lifetime, I have never seen a more heightened awareness or concern among hunters and anglers and guys on the street" as now, said Eddie Kochman, who retired as state aquatic wildlife manager in 2004, after 35 years with the Colorado Division of Wildlife.
David Dittloff, regional supervisor for the National Wildlife Federation, echoed that sentiment.
"There is a consensus among sportsmen and bird-watchers that climate is changing and something needs to be done to help fish and wildlife better adapt to a changing climate," he said. "And obviously there is a consensus that oil and gas activity is drastically increasing as well."
And with that comes a realization that efforts to protect dwindling habitat must be done in a more systematic way, Dittloff said.
There is no unanimity on why the climate is changing, but that's not as important, he said. Some subscribe to the prevailing belief among scientists that the globe is getting warmer because humans are putting more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Others aren't so sure humans are causing it, and hope that this warming trend may be replaced by a cooling trend that could last for decades.
Dittloff said that think tanks sponsored by the oil and gas industries are largely responsible for raising doubts that human activity is responsible for global warming.
Some environmentalists hunt, some don't. Some hunters are for more drilling, some for less. But what unites environmentalists, hunters and anglers is the desire to protect wildlife habitat "and some of the last wild places we have left," Kochman said.
Compared with the effects of heavy metals in a trout fishery, or a farm turning into a condo development, global warming has a slow, creeping impact, he said.
"But pretty soon you wake up one morning, and that's it," he said.
That's why it makes sense for the disparate entities to unite in opposition to reckless oil and gas development; to too-fast population growth; and to the sell-off of farms and ranches, Kochman said.
"I don't think I know of one organized (sportsmen's) group that is not actively involved in things like global climate change and the impacts of oil and gas exploration," he said. "Most of them are saying they want it done responsibly."
Kochman said he is worried about the trout in the higher elevations, such as the cutthroat.
"It doesn't take but a few degrees to influence the whole aquatic habitat base," he said. "First are the invertebrates the trout survive on; there is the egg inoculation, the reproductive cycle.
"I think warmer temperatures in Colorado are beginning to impact not just the trout fisheries, but the lower- level warm water fisheries as well."
A week after the workshops in Denver and Grand Junction, the same organizations will join others at the state's first Conservation Summit Oct. 6 through 8 in Keystone.
The summit aims to develop policies to ensure that Colorado's wildlife in 2058 will be in as good or better shape than it is today.
Speakers will include Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, Department of Natural Resources Executive Director Harris Sherman and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Regional Director Stephen Guertin.
Workshops
"Wildlife at a Crossroads" workshops aim to deliver the message that what is good for wildlife is good for the economy. Times, dates and locations:
* 1 to 4 p.m. today, REI Conference Room, 1416 Platte St., Denver
* 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, Doubletree Hotel, 743 Horizon Drive, Grand Junction
* 8 a.m. to noon, Oct. 25, School of Business, room 142, Adams State College, Richardson Avenue and Third Street, Alamosa
For more information or to register, call Randy Johnson at: 303-886-7363 or e-mail johnson.randy47@comcast.net.
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September 24, 2008
11:42 a.m.
Suggest removal
VVVV writes:
Gore has made much of his $100 million since his presidential bid arguing that humans are affecting climate. He is poised to make hundreds of millions more if his WeCampaign is successful. If the bias of dollars truly affects the "correctness" of scientific studies, then the only logical conclusion is that nobody is telling the truth, and we are just being herded like cattle to the slaughter, fear driving us and a twisted enough path ahead to not recognize the killing floor.
September 24, 2008
11:43 a.m.
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FCZ writes:
Kyoto accord.
Will it be effective in lowering global greenhouse gas emissions?
No. It wasn't meant to be.
Kyoto, a United Nations treaty, exempts the developing world -- 143 of 180 nations which ratified it -- from lowering emissions.
Since the developing world will account for most future emissions as it undergoes the industrial revolution we began a century ago, emissions will keep rising.
China, exempt from Kyoto, can not be given a pass just because they are communists if one really is concerned about air pollution.
But that's a political argument, not an environmental one.
September 24, 2008
11:54 a.m.
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sunshinestate writes:
This subject has been a major focus for the National Wildlife Federation....hopefully not at the expense of other pressing issues facing the the Federation's respective state affiliates throughout the country.
The history of effective conservation measures has been one of non-partisan. It is a tribute to the National Wildlife Federation that,on the Presidential candidate level,both candidates are very similar in their stance.
We have a long way to go.......the respective state Federations,although composed of enthusiastic hunter/fisher types,are still cast as "extremist" by some.We in the conservation community have allowed others to define ourselves and the issues. This lie has flourished for two decades,and the damage to the nation's conservation legacy has been so consistent that one wonders why the conservation organizations have been so ineffective in dealing with this wrongful public image.Since 1980 hunter/fishers have granted key political support to the GOP....now many within this constituency are cast as the 'environmental extremist'(I have served on the board of a state NWF affiliate and know very well these matters touched on here)
Global warming is easy compared to dealing with the pressures of "growth", and fostering sustainable agriculture,timber,water.
When America no longer supports or provides for quality hunting & fishing we will also see that we have lost a critical component of the true America.
Both presidential candidates are profiled in the current issue of "Field & Stream" magazine.The emphasis in the interviews is not global warming.
Another wake up call for the residents of the interior west is to recognize that "the last,best places" are not limited to the West,and that these other places are often under less energy development threat and enjoying better protection and management.
Get to work-hopefully this current effort will be a template for future success on a host of issues.
September 24, 2008
12:06 p.m.
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chickenlittle1234 writes:
"Anglers, hunters, environmentalists join forces over global warming"
So apparently, it's only people in the oil industry and Luddites that aren't worried about global warming. I look forward to their shrill and illogical responses about as much as root canal.
September 24, 2008
12:23 p.m.
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COLibertarian writes:
Chickenlittle
"There is no unanimity on why the climate is changing, but that's not as important, he said. Some subscribe to the prevailing belief among scientists that the globe is getting warmer because humans are putting more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Others aren't so sure humans are causing it, and hope that this warming trend may be replaced by a cooling trend that could last for decades."
While most are fighting to see who is right and who is wrong, there are people out there that dont give a rats arse about the blame game, but rather on improving the environment at every chance possible.
But again it is much more fun to make $$$$$$$$$ off of each sides "Campaign" Oh yea dont forget about the name calling too!
September 24, 2008
12:27 p.m.
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blahblahblog writes:
In many cases, being a very environmentally-friendly hunter is like being a very good midget basketball player. Cling to your guns!
September 24, 2008
12:34 p.m.
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H20 writes:
Chickenlittle are you in the oil and gas industy? If so shed some light on the comment board...
September 24, 2008
12:50 p.m.
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tuckbodi writes:
Isn't it just common sense? Pollution is bad. Plain and simple. My wish is we would come to love Mother Earth like the ancestral indians once did.
September 24, 2008
1:22 p.m.
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DeimosJB writes:
I remember hunting last year. The thermometer of my truck got so cold that it got stuck at 21 below (F), and stayed stuck at that temperature the rest of the trip, until after we got out of the high country and 1/2 way home. I never did find out exactly how cold it was that day, but it was by far the coldest hunt I'd ever done. Along those lines, you'll notice "scientists" isn't in the article headline, as scientists know the world cooled by 0.5C last year, the largest temperature drop in recorded history - even larger than the so-called "year without summer". "Historians" isn't in the title either, as historians know that the world has endured ice ages before, but never a global warming catastrophe.
As far as practical matters go, I'll be changing my hunting technique too, but not like the article suggests.
September 24, 2008
1:23 p.m.
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Michael writes:
tuck: NEWSFLASH - I'm not living in a tent, killing my dinner, cooking it over an open fire, and living like 16th or 17th century American Indians. And neither are the other 300 million people in America or the 6 billion on the earth. It is not "plain and simple". It is incredibly complex. We pollute not because we like to - we all know it is bad. We make trade offs. In order to feed 300 million people we need to farm with chemicals, machinery, GPS satellites, and modern technology. To make those things we create some pollution. To move that food we need roads, trucks, storage, and infrastructure (as well as the other things we use and need). Are you a simple minded child or do you understand nothing of the world you inhabit?
September 24, 2008
1:40 p.m.
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DavidG writes:
Its about time that we start seeing this consensus. Climate change is at least partly responsible for the pine beetle problem. As average temperatures go up, the odds for a really cold winter go down. Weather patterns change as the oceans warm up. Even today's headlines are talking about infestations of these beetles on the front range. Wildlife cannot live without a safe habitat. We can't reverse this in the near term, but we should be able to motivate our leaders into working towards longer term agreement that dramatically slows down our contribution to this warming trend. If its not caused by humans, what else is out there, Martians? Too much animal dung? Al Gore is the messenger and we better get the message.
September 24, 2008
1:49 p.m.
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hikingartist writes:
Michael, are you always condescending because you are always right or is it the other way around? Seems to me Tucks point of making our environment a higher priority is not simple minded; it is necessary that we confront some complex issues about survival and sustainability.
September 24, 2008
1:57 p.m.
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COLibertarian writes:
DavidG
Consensus? Is that whats holding you back?
When you talk about "Global Warming" are you stating that the Colorado and Region will get Warmer? Or do the theories lead to another potential "Mini-Ice Age"?
Yes Climate Change and Environmentalism are a big issue for us to work on locally, regionally, and World-wide, but lets look at the front-range and the Environmental Priorities and problems we face NOW.
What do you and others propose for the Environmental mess we are allowing to happne right NOW in the Post-Hayman Fire region? Due to Tree loss in the area, combined with the Geological make-up of the area, how is that affecting your day to day life here in Denver? The affects of the fish and wildlife habitat directly affected by the erosion of this area. How much sediminent is being "polluted" into our fisheries and our drinking water? What are the $$$$$ spent fixing this problem within our water drainages RATHER than fixing the areas that are eroding away?????
Just a thought and a view into the SHORT-TERM affects that we as conservationalists, hunters, fishing people need to look into......and yes it is in our back yards.......
September 24, 2008
2:08 p.m.
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COLibertarian writes:
HikingArtist
Good afternoon. What Tucks did say was simplistic and does very little to help our environment locally, regionally or world wide. Sorry, not meaning to be condescending, just stating facts.
I do not know of any, but I am sure they are out there, that do not love our Mother Earth.
Example. China and India are 2 of the largest up and coming industrial countries......(I know I know......No Sh*& Sherlock....)
Now in the negotiations that must occur world wide, for this to work to any success at all, How in the heII does Loving our Mother Earth and Living like the ancestoral Indians, truly fit into the dialogue and negotiations with our world-wide neighbors????
September 24, 2008
2:51 p.m.
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sunshinestate writes:
Most of the comments entered are useless.
September 24, 2008
3:40 p.m.
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ColdShot writes:
The NATURAL climate changes on earth have been ongoing for billions of years! Humans are not going to influence those changes!
Yes, be sensible and preserve the environment as best we can. But to think humans can alter the climate changes is foolish!