We all know that the wildfire has caused us humans in Colorado to change everything about the way we're living: we're using less water, trying to stay off the roads to improve air quality, and even, in extreme scenarios, leaving our homes entirely.

Wildlife in Colorado is having to adapt in similar ways, with sometimes deadly consequences.

According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, most of Colorado's wild animals have been doing a great job at dispersing from burn areas. Bear activity is being noted further east than normal, and elk, deer, and moose are moving high above the treelines to escape the burned brush.

Many CPW officers believe that smaller game may not have survived as well as their larger counterparts: animals like turkeys, rabbits, foxes, and more.

However, the biggest concern for CPW is not the loss of wildlife. In fact, in an email, Public Information Officer Jason Clay said that "wildfire can improve wildlife habitat. Come next spring in some of these areas - we are going to see a flush of green grasses and forbs and it will be great wildlife habitat during that time."

What they're concerned about the most are our aquatic friends, since wildfires can cause sediment runoff and a change to the PH levels of those fisheries. Colorado Parks and Wildlife will continue to monitor the effects that the wildfire is having on our state's wild game, and hopefully by next spring, we'll see a wild Colorado yet again.

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Colorado's Wild Big Game Populations

 

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