Colorado Euthanizes Wolf Preying on Livestock Amid Reintroduction Debate 🐺

While we continue to slowly inch back towards the weekend, let’s all take a minute to grab a coffee or whiskey (no judgement) and get into what this beautiful Tuesday has to offer.

Here's what's worth reading about so far this week:

• Unprecedented - Colorado officials have killed one of their wolves 🐺

• Gulf snapper SZN - Red snapper populations are on the mend in Alabama 🎣

• New budget - Oregon’s new budget has some deep cuts and fee increases 💰

• Poacher sentenced - Mass. man takes plea deal in sanctuary case 🦌

• Shocking - Watch as these boys find out they might be hanging around the lake a little too long ⚡️

A TOUGH SITUATION
COLORADO EUTHANIZES WOLF PREYING ON LIVESTOCK AMID REINTRODUCTION DEBATE

In an unprecedented move, at least in Colorado, Parks and Wildlife officials have done the unthinkable and have dispatched one of their newly-introduced wolves. Mixed up in four confirmed depredation events within a one-week timeframe, the wolf, identified as 2405, was euthanized in Pitkin County late last week.

As a member of the infamous Copper Creek Pack - who, if you’ll recall, has been captured, quarantined, re-released and relocated all within the last 6-8 months - was also implicated in a Memorial Day weekend bloodbath across three western Colorado ranches.

🎣 Gulf Coast red snapper populations are booming off the coast of ‘Bama. New research from the University of South Alabama is showing some promising numbers for the red snapper population. According to the research, snapper populations along the Gulf Coast are at their highest levels in over a decade, a boon for anglers as the 2025 fishing season kicks off.

“The average number now around an artificial reef is about 160 red snapper on one artificial reef and you can imagine we have over 12,000 of those reefs offshore in Alabama, so that number starts to get very, very large. There’s about 7 million red snapper on the Alabama Coast right now.”

The season began on May 23 and runs daily through June 30, followed by four-day weekend openings starting July 4 until the recreational quota of approximately 664,000 pounds is met.

Despite the population thriving, red snapper sizes have stabilized since their peak in 2015. Researchers stated that the reduction in overall size shouldn’t come as much of a surprise as snapper seasons continue to be expanded. So, while the abundance solidifies Alabama’s status as a prime destination for red snapper fishing, if you’re looking for the big ones, they’re out there. You’ve just got to work a little harder to find them.

💰 Oregon’s Hunting, Fishing Licenses Face 26-28% Increase Along with Hatchery Closings in New Budget. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has proposed a $607 million budget for 2025-27 that includes closing the Salmon River Hatchery in Otis, increasing fishing and hunting license fees by nearly 30% over five years, and introducing a new $9 ocean fishing endorsement. The fee hikes, which would raise a resident fishing license from $44 to $56 and a hunting license from $34.50 to $45 by 2030, aim to address a funding gap caused by inflation and rising costs, such as a 20% increase in fish feed prices. The ocean endorsement, excluding salmon fishing, is intended to fund coastwide surveys for species like black rockfish. Commercial fishing fees would also rise, with a 12% increase in 2026 and 4% in 2028 and 2030.

The closure of the Otis hatchery, along with another near Roseburg, is part of $8.5 million in agency cuts to offset budget constraints. The Salmon River Hatchery, which supports Chinook and coho salmon and steelhead production, may see some operations shifted to other facilities, though challenges remain due to ongoing fish return management. The proposal, supported by groups like Trout Unlimited but criticized by others like the Native Fish Society for prioritizing hatcheries over habitat restoration, awaits approval from the Oregon Legislature in later this year.

🧑‍⚖️ Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Deer Hunting in Northampton Wildlife Sanctuary. A 38-year-old man from Florence, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to multiple wildlife violations after illegally killing a white-tailed deer in the Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary in Northampton. The incident occurred late in 2024 when an Environmental Police officer observed the suspect spotlighting deer at night within the protected sanctuary. A subsequent investigation and traffic stop revealed the deer, which had been unlawfully taken with a crossbow.

The man faced charges including hunting during a closed season at night, unlawful killing of a deer, hunting in a wildlife sanctuary, using a crossbow, and employing artificial light. As part of a plea agreement, the man was ordered to pay $850 in fines and $500 in restitution. He also received a one-year suspension of his hunting license, was placed on probation for one year, and forfeited the crossbow used in the offense.

1. I went to the movies this weekend with the kids (Last Rodeo is awesome).

   Here’s what else is playing:

   • Final Destination

   • Lilo and Stich

   • Karate Kid

   • How to Train Your Dragon

     • We’re stuck in like 2005 and none of y’all want to admit it

2. Ever notice how everything kind of went downhill after we started letting dudes wear sneakers with suits?

3. Are you protecting your peace or just avoiding responsibilities?

4. The Stanley Cup will be at the Elbo Room again this year.  Ain’t no doubt.

5.  Plead your case to Him and watch with expectation 🙏 

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⚡️ “Check out the static in the air right now.” We’ve all stayed out in a storm a little longer than we ought to and these two fellas are flirting with learning why we shouldn’t.

Probably time to shut ‘er down, boys…

Oh, and one more thing…