Jacki Out Yonder

12/23/2024

Dreaming of winter back in the Rockies 🏔️ ‘til I return.

For now, I’ll try to enjoy the Lake-effect snow…send hand and feet warmers. Oh, and lots of hot cocoa. Thanks!

09/29/2024

Ever wonder how Colorado ended up being home to the second-fastest land animal in the world? It probably has something to do with how a 'relative' to the world's fastest

08/01/2024

About a week after Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced initial evidence of invasive zebra mussels in the Colorado River near Grand Junction, the agency has confirmed more signs. The species, which is known for its...

07/06/2024

30 years ago the Storm King Fire took the lives of 14 wildland firefighters near Glenwood Springs, CO.

July 6 marks the 30th anniversary of the Storm King fire, a deadly South Canyon blaze on Storm King Mountain outside Glenwood Springs that claimed the lives of 14 wildland firefighters in 1994.  Thanks to...

07/02/2024

06/30/2024

So insightful.

06/26/2024

by Mike Koshmrl, WyoFile WIND RIVER VALLEY—Biologists Tucker Russell and Rene Schell stopped in their tracks.  Spooked out of a daybed, a mule deer

06/24/2024

Choose more environmentally friendly options besides balloons👇🏼

Erik picked up this strand of ELEVEN balloons out of the hayfield this afternoon. They were losing helium and would have been essentially invisible in another few hours, and then stood a good chance of getting mowed, raked and baled in the dense grass to be potentially eaten by a cow, horse or goat this winter. This is often fatal to the animal, causing intestinal blockage or choking. With the long strings wound right into the bale, an animal may not even realize what it’s consuming until it’s too late.

Please, on behalf of not only livestock but wildlife, skip the balloons when you’re decorating for your party this summer! Releasing balloons, whether accidental or intentional, is littering, plain and simple—and it can truly have deadly consequences.

For our readers who want receipts, here a few articles about the effect of balloons on both livestock and wildlife:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/agriculture/farming/8494881/Farmer-wins-compensation-after-Red-Nose-Day-balloon-kills-cow.html

https://www.postandcourier.com/news/balloon-hazards-real-or-overblown/article_c9a7e1b2-56bb-5e14-acc6-d64898653e83.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-46058916

https://www.king5.com/article/tech/science/environment/balloon-pollution-dangerous-for-farm-animals-and-wildlife/281-588896532