Goose Banding, Rodeo and a 4th of July Hike

We accepted an invitation from the State of Colorado to help with the annual Canada Goose Banding effort at Walden Reservoir. Kayaks were used to herd over 600 geese into a corral.
This was possible due to molting season, the geese were unable to fly. The geese were then separated by banded or unbanded and goslings. The banded geese were recorded and released. The unbanded geese were sexed, banded and released.

NORTH PARK NEVER SUMMER RODEO
The girl on the right is Taylor, the Rodeo Queen. She also is one of the YCC (Youth Conservation Corp) Summer employees at the Refuge.
Don't let her girly looks fool you, she grew up here in Walden on a ranch and is a hard worker. Taylor also competes as a barrel racer in the rodeo.




In this picture of the barrel racing event you can see the smoke rising in the distance as one of the many Colorado wildfires burns. This one is in Poudre Canyon about 50 east of Walden. Poudre Canyon runs between Walden and Fort Collins.

Having received our ATV Certifications this past January, we are putting them to use in our work here at Arapaho NWR. On this particular day we were using the ATVs to haul obsolete fencing, removed by the YCC, out of the back country for recycling.

BIG CREEK FALLS HIKE
On Independence Day we took a five mile hike in the Zirkel Wilderness Area with friends and fellow volunteers, Carolyn and Wally.






The Wyoming Ground Squirrels, who live all around us, enjoy eating the spent petunia blossoms. We enjoy watching these busy little critters. Sure glad the hanging flower basket is out of their reach.



While updating our BLOG, we looked out our back window and spotted three young moose.
What a joy it is to live on a National Wildlife Refuge. We were able to take a picture of one before they ran away.