Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
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Site Name Elevation (ft.) Current Snow Depth (in.) Current Snow Water Equivalent (in.) 30-Year Median SWE Last Year’s SWE Current Percent of 30-Year Median SWE Bear Lodge Divide 4680 0 0 0.2 1.6 0 Blind Park Snotel 6870 4 2 0.3 0.6 667 Cole Canyon Snotel 5870 10 3.6 1 3.8 360 North Rapid Creek Snotel 6250 1 1.3 0.3 2.9 433 Reuter Canyon 6280 3.2 1.2 2.7 1.9 44 Submitted by Sherry Burr, NRCS...
Simple personal actions can help residents escape some potentially serious insect-spread diseases linked with warmer weather and outdoor activities, according to the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH). Courtney Tillman, epidemiologist with WDH, said avoiding mosquitos and ticks is the basic strategy and remains important. “Wyoming’s reported case numbers from the diseases these insects can cause are typically low, but we consistently see activity each year. And, unfortunately, the results can sometimes be severe,” Tillman said. West Nile virus...
Rock climbing routes on the east and northeast faces of Devils Tower summit will be temporarily closed effective immediately to protect nesting Peregrine and Prairie Falcons. The closure is implemented annually to provide the falcons with an undisturbed nesting location during this critical courtship and nest-selection period. The presence of climbers near falcon nests can be distressing to parent birds and disturbance from climbing activities may force falcons to abandon eggs or chicks. The closure is also implemented to protect climbers, as...
The process to update the resource management plan (RMP) that governs Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land in Crook County has officially begun. The scoping period will begin with a series of public meetings, including one at the courthouse in Sundance on May 15 at 4 p.m. The document defines how the BLM approaches management of everything from livestock grazing and fire management to air quality and minerals on the lands it governs within northeast Wyoming and covers the tri-county region of Crook, Weston and Niobrara counties. The RMP for...
After a winter that brought seemingly endless blizzards, we'd be forgiven for feeling glum at news of yet another squall. Sunday, however, brought a different kind of storm to the northern portion of the United States – a much more beautiful one. In this area, columns of light pulsed and danced as the day dwindled towards midnight, moving upwards towards a vast swirl overhead. The colors may have been less vivid than for skywatchers further north, but the aurora borealis was very much visible t...
Alterations to this year’s hunting seasons have now been approved by the Wyoming Game & Fish Commission, but with one important change to what was proposed. The general deer season will still be shortened, but a little less than expected. “Our rifle season, after the commission met, is going to be November 1 through November 17, so we still cut the weekend out but with an extra few days of wiggle room to play with,” says Sundance Game Warden Nate Holst. The commission met last week to consider the adjustments, which were proposed mainly in re...
The threat of an introduction of invasive aquatic species into LAK Reservoir near Newcastle is resulting in changes to recreational access at the site. As of April 1, 2023, motorized watercraft (including watercraft with electric motors) are not allowed on LAK Reservoir. Non-motorized watercraft that are hand-launched will still be allowed. In addition to these watercraft, the reservoir will remain open to anglers for shore and ice fishing. “Due to the discovery of invasive zebra mussels in Pactola Reservoir in South Dakota’s Black Hills in...
Wildlife managers are proposing adjustments to the Wyoming Game & Fish Department’s hunting season proposals throughout the state. More modifications have been made since the department presented its season proposals during public meetings around the state in March. Since that time, the ongoing impacts of winter and overwhelming public concern led wildlife managers to reexamine their recommendations. In Crook County, however, a reduction to both the length of the season and the number of available licenses has been proposed due to concerns o...
A pair of Canada geese amble along the dam at Sundance Pond on Tuesday morning. Having finally thawed, the popular goose habitat is once again welcoming the pairs back....
The ongoing bird flu epidemic is now present in all 50 states, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Though the United States has so far only seen one case of a human infected with the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus – reported in Colorado last year – the CDC has announced two more cases in Chile and China over the past week. The former was only the second human case ever reported in South America, following a case in Ecuador in January. On Monday, the CDC reported that the 53-year-old-man was in res...
Public comments are now being sought for a proposal put forth by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to withdraw a portion of the Black Hills National Forest System near Pactola Reservoir in South Dakota. The proposal would see 20,574 acres of land in the Rapid Creek Watershed in Pennington County withdrawn from consideration for potential sale or mining for up to 20 years, subject to valid existing rights. According to a press release from USFS, the purpose is to protect cultural and natural resources in the...
The Black Hills region appears to have escaped the more severe levels of wildlife mortality that have affected much of Wyoming this winter. The Wyoming Game & Fish Department has announced that active monitoring of the big game across the state has shown increased mortality due to the increased snowfall and extreme temperatures over the last few months. "Wyoming is used to tough winters, but it has been a while since we have had a winter where severe conditions were so widespread across the...
As boating enthusiasts gear up for the summer, so too do the Wyoming Game & Fish Department’s ongoing efforts to make sure that zebra mussels do not find their way into Wyoming waters. Game & Fish is now offering training for the public on how to perform inspections for these and other aquatic invasive species (AIS), offering the necessary skills to inspect your own and other watercraft. “Aquatic invasive species can have far-reaching impacts on Wyoming water resources for agriculture, municipalities and wildlife. Many of these invasive spe...
The northern long-eared bat is now officially listed as “endangered”. The implementation of this upgrade to the bat’s status was originally set to take place on January 30. However, this was delayed until the end of March to address concerns over the impact that the listing might have on infrastructure projects across the bat’s territory. The delay, according to an announcement from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) in the Federal Register, “Is necessary for the Service to finalize conservation tools and guidance documents to avoid con...
Site Name Elevation (ft.) Current Snow Depth (in.) Current Snow Water Equivalent (in.) 30-Year Median SWE Last Year’s SWE Current Percent of 30-Year Median SWE Bear Lodge Divide 4680 14.5 4.8 1.1 0 436 Blind Park Snotel 6870 31 8.7 7 1 124 Cole Canyon Snotel 5870 28 8.1 5.2 2.6 156 Ditch Creek 6880 29.1 6 3.6 1 167 Little Bear Run 6240 25.8 5.2 2.5 0 208 Mallo 6420 35.3 9.5 5.9 0.6 161 Mount Tom 5560 24 5.8 2.9 0 200 North Rapid Creek Snotel 6250 27 7.6 6.6 4.2 115 Reuter Canyon 6280 34.3 10.1 7 1.1 144 Upper Spearfish 6500 32.5 9.8 5.8 1.1 1...
Keyhole State Park is one of six Wyoming destinations to be taking part in the "Wings Over Wyoming" project to install pollinator gardens this coming spring and summer – and volunteers are needed to make it happen. Wyoming State Parks (WSP) announced last fall that it had been selected as a recipient of the 2022 "Hearts of STIHL" Program, receiving $20,000 towards pollinator projects for the coming summer. Sponsors STIHL Inc. selected projects to represent the six state park regions, with the a...
Scores of geese were huddled around the Belle Fourche river and west end of Keyhole Reservoir as the migrating waterfowl took advantage of the small amount of open water available on Sunday. With temps expected to only warm up a small amount over the next week, the feathered fowl may not be moving too far anytime soon....
If you live in the Miller Creek and Lytle Creek area and would like to protect your land and home from the potential impacts of a wildfire, the Crook County Natural Resource District (CCNRD) is able to offer you a helping hand. CCNRD is looking to partner with landowners on hazardous fuels reduction projects and is offering the benefits of both its expertise and up to 80% funding assistance. Hazardous fuel reduction projects are a way to be proactive with your forested property, creating fire...
A permit has been approved to allow the City of Sundance to cull double the number of deer this year with no restrictions on season timing. The city is implementing a year-round cull in response to evidence that chronic wasting disease (CWD) may be more prevalent than previously thought. Game Warden Nate Holst attended last week's meeting of the city council to confirm that Wyoming Game & Fish has now approved the license. This will allow Sundance to take up to 100 deer between now and the end o...
The toughest winter in a while might have been easier on Crook County's ranchers if it hadn't come on the heels of several years of drought. "Cold and snow is a problematic thing, whether you're talking for calving or just wintering cattle and yearlings," says Wade Crawford of Crook County Veterinary Service. "You end up having to feed more hay, which was in limited supply last year." Two to three years of dry weather meant that nobody had much extra feed for their animals, he says. "What we...
Site Name Elevation (ft.) Current Snow Depth (in.) Current Snow Water Equivalent (in.) 30 Year Median SWE Last Year’s SWE Current Percent of 30 Year Median SWE Bear Lodge Divide 4680 17.2 4.8 2.1 1 229 Blind Park Snotel 6870 34 7.5 6.6 4 114 Cole Canyon Snotel 5870 33 7.4 4.7 3.7 157 Ditch Creek 6880 21.5 3.8 3.5 2.4 109 Little Bear Run 6240 21.6 4 3.6 2.1 111 Mallo 6420 33.4 6.1 6.5 3.3 94 Mount Tom 5560 25.4 4.9 4.3 2 114 North Rapid Creek Snotel 6250 30 6.5 5.8 4.7 112 Reuter Canyon 6280 36.8 9.1 8.2 3.6 111 Upper Spearfish 6500 30.6 8.4 6...
Wyoming Game and Fish’s Casper Region has scheduled a series of public meetings this month to present and discuss the proposed hunting seasons for 2023. These meetings are a way to learn about local wildlife populations, ask questions and visit with local biologists and wardens. Crook County’s meeting will take place in Sundance in the courthouse basement on March 20 at 4 p.m. If you are unable to make this meeting, other nearby opportunities include the Weston County Library meeting room in Newcastle on the same day at 7 p.m. and the Nio...
A mature bull takes a break from grazing on a newly-melted patch of forage on Monday evening south of Sundance....
A midweek storm last week caused temperature drops of more than 40 degrees in part of Crook County, bringing bitter cold as well as several inches of snow. The snow mostly began to fall across the Black Hills and parts of western South Dakota and northeast Wyoming before widespread snow moved across the area the next day, on February 21. This continued until Wednesday, with snowfall amounts between six and 12 inches across the area. While the winds were not especially strong during this storm, gusts of up to 45 mph were recorded, causing the...
Spring may seem a long way away from underneath February’s snowdrifts, but the Wyoming Game & Fish Department will be prepared when it arrives to protect Keyhole Reservoir from an infestation of zebra mussels. Game & Fish has been concerned about this possibility since an infestation of the invasive creatures was reported at Pactola Reservoir, just 30 miles from the Wyoming border. This was the closest location where the species has yet been found, which the department concluded was a significant increase to the risk to the state’s waters. Not...
