Colorado Parks and Wildlife - Durango

06/18/2026

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife office in Durango will be closed Friday in observance of Juneteenth. We will return to the office on Monday with normal business hours.

06/16/2026

🪶 Time flies when you’re rehabbing raptors.

This golden eagle spent the winter at our Frisco Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.

Earlier this spring, District Wildlife Manager Doug Purcell released it back near where it was originally found injured outside Pagosa Springs.

Always love seeing them get a second chance at a wild life. Thank you DWM Purcell and Frisco Creek manager Michael Sirochman for caring for this beautiful eagle.

Watch until the end for a cool fly by!

06/04/2026

This weekend is Free Fishing Weekend in Colorado!

Fish for FREE June 6th and 7th without the need for a license. All fishing regulations and bag / possession limits still apply. For more information click the link below!

https://cpw.state.co.us/event/fishing/2026/06/experience-world-class-fishing-colorado-free-june-6-7

05/22/2026

Heads up, the Durango Fish Hatchery will be closed to the public next week (May 26-29) while construction crews are on the property to demo the old Area 15 wildlife office building.

The Huck Finn pond will still be open to fishing. The public is encouraged to park along East Park Ave. to access the pond.

INFO:

Home News Releases Durango Fish Hatchery to temporarily close to public for construction Durango Fish Hatchery to temporarily close to public for construction Southwest Region Share: John Livingston Southwest Region Public Information Officer 970-759-9590 / [email protected] Durang...

05/18/2026

The Bayfield Lions Club Shooting Range will be closed for maintenance on the following dates.

May 18th through May 22nd.

June 8th through June 12th.

Thank you for your understanding.

05/14/2026

Bear activity is already picking up across southwest Colorado. But we recently had a chance to celebrate a few successful stories regarding some young bears from last year that we wanted to share with all of you.

Remember that bear that ended up looking for a place to hide insde the Yellow Carrot restaurant in Durango last summer after it was chased around by a bunch of humans with cell phones? It was one of three cubs we caught in the same area on a late August day in 2025 without their mother anywhere to be found. All three cubs weighed less than 19 pounds at the time, with the smallest being only 10 pounds.

They were three of 13 orphaned bear cubs from La Plata County that we sent to CPW's Frisco Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in 2025. Most of those 13 cubs were released ahead of winter to find dens of their own. But these bears, along with one more from La Plata County and a fifth from the Dove Creek area, were not able to put on enough weight in time for release ahead of winter and spent the winter denned up at our rehab facility.

But after their lengthy stay, these cubs were ready for their second chance at a wild life and were released into excellent bear habitat in early May. We took three of the five and released them as the snow fell in the National Forest in Archuleta County. The same day, two more went out into the National Forest west of Durango.

The first photo is of the bear from the Yellow Carrot incident when we first brought it in. The next seeven photos are of that same bear from the day we released it, with plenty more photos of all of the bears released that day in this post.

While this story has a happy ending, they don't all end that way. We are very thankful to Frisco Creek facility manager Michael Sirochman for the incredible work and care that goes into these cubs. If you want to learn more about our process of rehabbing orphaned cubs and what these same bears went through during their 8-month stay at Frisco Creek, check out this link: https://coloradooutdoorsmag.com/2025/08/22/orphaned-black-bear-cubs-return-to-the-wild/

When bears inevitably show up in town, please report them to our office right away at 970-247-0855. As always, secure your trash, take down birdfeers and remove all attractants to help reduce human-bear conflict. Watch for bears and all wildlife on our roadways. And when you see a bear, think about what is best for it before trying to take out your phone to get pictures for social media. Our pals at BearWise offer tons of great tips on safely hazing bears away and plenty more resources on how to live with bears.

05/06/2026

Navajo State Park-Colorado Parks and Wildlife will be hosting a volunteer park cleanup this coming Saturday, May 9, 2026. The cleanup will start at 9 am and will end around 3 pm. A light deli lunch will be served at 12 pm. If you can only volunteer for part of the day that is totally fine! Please sign up or RSVP with the park visitor center so they can be sure to have enough food for everyone. Please share and help us spread the word! Thank you to all our volunteers!

05/04/2026

Over the last year, CPW has worked to expand its K-9 program, and we will be excited to share more information about two of our new K-9 officers working here on the Western Slope over the coming weeks.

For now, we want to introduce you to K-9 Oso, handled by CPW officer Ryan Lane. Oso will help with a wide range of duties here in our Durango area as well as the Montrose area and the San Luis Valley.

As we bring Oso on board our team, we want to acknowledge the organizations who help make our K-9 program possible. Thanks to Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., we are able to make sure Oso has the proper protective equipment when he's in the field.

Here's more information:

Colorado Parks and Wildlife K9 Oso to get donation of body armor

DURANGO, Colo. - K9 Oso will receive a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. K9 Oso’s vest was sponsored by Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. and will be embroidered with the sentiment “This gift of protection provided by Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.”. Delivery is expected within ten weeks.

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., established in 2009, is a 501(c)(3) charity whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. This potentially lifesaving body armor for four-legged K9 officers is U.S. made, custom fitted, and National Institute of Justice (NIJ) certified. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. has provided over 6,397 vests valued at $6.9 million to K9s in all 50 states, made possible by both private and corporate donations.

The program is open to U.S. dogs at least 20 months old, actively employed, and certified with law enforcement or related agencies. K9s with expired vests are also eligible to participate. There are an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. accepts tax-deductible contributions in any amount, while a single donation of $1,050 will sponsor one vest. Each vest has a value of $1800.00, weighs an average of 4-5 lbs., and comes with a five-year warranty. For more information, or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call (508) 824- 6978. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provides information, lists events, and accepts donations at www.vik9s.org, or you may mail your contribution to P.O. Box 9, East Taunton, MA 02718.

04/23/2026

Are you looking for Mother Day gift ideas? We have the perfect gift for the bird enthusiast in your life! Blue Bird houses are available for purchase in our Durango Service Center for $35 dollars cash or check. All proceeds from the sales will benefit the Durango Wildlife Museum!