SteppinAce

Wildlife Biologist, tap dancer, mom, and Oklahoma State Cowboy

[CPW SE Region @CPW_SE]

Water contact advisory at John Martin Reservoir as Pueblo sewage spill moves downstream; arrival anticipated Monday. Read more: https://t.co/amdr5botQ3
📸 CPW Photos/Justine Butchart

[CPW SE Region @CPW_SE]

Arkansas River Hazard! There is a river-wide debris field ~100 yds wide/ ~1 ft thick, 100-ft below Seidel’s Suckhole/Lower Browns Canyon. We recommend moving / portage river-left to another section of River until further notice. We will update you once the hazard is cleared.

[CPW SE Region @CPW_SE]

Sportspersons’ Meeting Jul 9, 6-8 pm, join online or in-person: SE office, 4255 Sinton Rd, CoS. Topics: SE Deer Herd Management planning to begin, Aquatic update, Beaver/Furbearer workgroup updates. More info and online zoom link: https://t.co/XHHq6Q1eKt

[CPW SE Region @CPW_SE]

ICYMI -- This is video from a July 30 event where @COParksWildlife aquatic biologists stocked state-endangered boreal toads into an alpine lake.
Read about the importance of this work here: https://t.co/lvMVrCziL6

[Colorado Parks and Wildlife @COParksWildlife]

We're providing local communities with help to reduce human-bear conflicts through the Human-Bear Conflict Reduction Community Grant Program by offering grant funding for projects that reduce conflicts with bears. Learn more: https://t.co/gnkDLx6HUH

[Cherokee Nation @CherokeeNation]

Today is Cherokee Nation Remembrance Day.

185 years ago today, one of the final groups of Cherokees arrived in Indian Territory after being forcibly removed from our homelands and enduring a perilous journey across the Trail of Tears.

[U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service @USFWS]

"I guess I'll just be over here supplying y'all with clean drinking water, protecting your houses from flooding and providing habitat for all the fish you like to catch!" - a bitter wetland

Put some respect on their name. Wetlands are vital.

#WWD2024 #WorldWetlandsDay

[James Tate @JamesTate121]

COPIED FROM JOE BECIGNEUL: THIS IS PROBABLY GOING TO TICK SOME PEOPLE OFF, AND I HOPE IT DOES. BUT I’M GOING TO KEEP ON SHARING IT AND SAYING IT. AND ONCE AGAIN, I AM NOT A SWIFTIE, BUT I AM A HUMAN BEING, A DAD AND, A MONSTROUS FOOTBALL FAN.
I am extremely disappointed in so many of you who think that "not being a fan" of someone means you're entitled to shit all over them.
I want to remind you of something.
Your children are watching you complain about Taylor Swift sitting at a football game, being happy, and cheering for a man she loves in what appears to be a very loving, respectful relationship.
Your Children are watching you judge a woman for literally just EXISTING and taking up space happily.
And you know what? Ms. Swift has won 324 awards? How many do you have?
She brought $5 BILLION dollars in consumer spending and boosted the U. S. economy so significantly, that leaders from other countries actually beg for her to play there?
Did you know that there are over 20 college courses about her skills as an artist, lyricist, and musician - including at places like Harvard, Stanford & UC Berkeley?
Did you know that Taylor Swift quietly donates mass amounts of money to local food banks in every city she performs in?
AND DID YOU KNOW …
That Taylor Swift was sexually assaulted by a radio DJ, and she got him fired? When he sued HER for over $3 million for defamation, she counter sued for a symbolic $1 in a court case that took 2 YEARS for her to win. And, she did that just to show women that fighting for what's right has no price tag & to never be silent in the face of oppression.
WELL IF YOU DON’T CARE BY NOW, YOU SHOULD.
Because your daughters, nieces, and your nephews are watching you run your mouth. And they are seeing the world hate a woman who does so much good, simply because she exists in their line of sight.
DO BETTER PEOPLE.
Teach your boys to respect women. Teach your girls that as women - they are ALLOWED to take up space.
Fix it. Become aware of your words. Because we all have the ability and the obligation to fight for the future of our children with simple moments. And we need to consciously choose to be better for them.

[CPW SE Region @CPW_SE]

Today @COParksWildlife staff conducted an epic #wildlife #rescue when they placed two orphaned bear cubs in an artificial den on #PikesPeak where they will spend the winter and emerge as wild bears in spring. On hand were key partners @CSUtilities @CheyenneMtnZoo @COSCityCouncil

[CPW SW Region @CPW_SW]

⚠️ Deer shouldn't be on your doorstep begging for food.

San Miguel County's Sarah Tyler shared images of this mule deer in her neighborhood where residents are feeding it fruit and vegetables and it's accessing bird feeders. This creates a danger to the deer and humans.

[Dan Baldassarre @evornithology]

Insane aerobatic ability on display here. And this is not a small bird! Cc: @ShannonSkalos

[Mark Smith Photography @marktakesphoto]

It’s no secret that eagles can eat whole fish on the fly but it never gets old. Especially when they look right into the camera with an expression that seems to say, “Did you get that?”

[Colorado Parks and Wildlife @COParksWildlife]

A historic day for Colorado and for the first time ever — we released 5 wolves, 3 males and 2 females, in Grand County today.

Captured in Oregon, the wolves were evaluated by our veterinarians & biologists, fitted with GPS collars & transported to Colorado for their release.

[Tim O'Connell @Seiurus]

Gather 'round for storytime, kids!

Many intellectual giants <cough [bots] cough> this week losing their fecal sacs over the @AmOrnith decision to replace eponymous names for birds.

"You're erasing history" they cry.

Let's explore some history with #BachmansSparrow. 🧵1\12

[Jason Helmes @anymanfitness]

Last year, my daughter got cut from her 7th grade volleyball team.

She made the first cut, and thought she had a good chance. But on the second and final cut, they called her name, and she put her head down and walked out to the car where her mom and I were waiting.

She opened the car door, sat down, and started bawling. It was so hard to watch. She wanted to be on that team more than anything. I thought she was good enough, but the coach didn't.

My heart went out to her. But we didn't sugarcoat things for her. We told her we understood how much it stings. I've been cut before. Her mom had been cut from sports before, too. It's an ego shot and a gut punch.

We told her to go ask the coach what she could work on for next year. The coach gave her good feedback. And told her she was the "first girl cut". Which sounded promising, but only added to the sting. She said to me, "If only I had been a little bit better and made a few more serves..."

We told her she had a few choices. She could let this be the end. Or she could use this as fuel and fire. And to use it as motivation to work hard to make the team next year.

For a solid year, she practiced 4-5 times per week minimum. She went to every camp, every practice session she could find, found a travel team she could play on, and spent her entire summer at camps, practices, or in our backyard smashing the volleyball against our house (and denting our siding lol).

She had her tryouts this week. In the first tryout, she unleashed her new jump serve and hit 20 straight volleyballs over the net. The coaches were stunned. She said all the coaches came up to her immediately in the first 5 minutes with their clipboards and said, "What's your name?"

They started using her as a demonstrator, saying "Hey, Brooklyn, can you show everyone how to do this?" Even over the returning starters.

I asked her how she did when she got back. "Hey, you've been around a lot of volleyball in the last year. How did you do? Were you in the upper half of the players?"

She's a humble girl. And she proudly said, "I was the best player on the court."

She made the team, obviously. I'm beaming as a father this week.

I told her how proud I was of her. But not just because she made the team, or she's a great player now. But because she didn't give up. She didn't cry about it (after that first day). She didn't ask mom and dad to go lobby for her to be on the team.

She got after it and worked hard for a full year, taking no breaks. Her other volleyball friends were for sure taking it easier. Chilling out and vibing during the summer. She was attending camps and practicing and getting better while they were relaxing.

Sometimes as a parent, you hope you're teaching your kids how to do things.

But this was a case where she taught me how to do things. 100%.

[CPW SE Region @CPW_SE]

Join @COParksWildlife Officer Travis Sauder as he responded this morning to a #wildlife #rescue call near #ColoradoSprings. He found an elk calf caught in a barbed-wire fence. The calf was tired from thrashing and its leg skinned up. But watch its reaction when Sauder frees it.

[Colorado Parks and Wildlife @COParksWildlife]

Us looking at the ruddy duck’s beak…don’t sing it, don’t sing it…

🎵I’M BLUE DA BA DEE DA BA DI, DA BA DEE DA BA DI, DA BA DEE DA BA DI, DA BA DEE DA BA DI, I’M BLUE🎵

[CPW NE Region @CPW_NE]

You can be just like Justin Holiday when you get your fishing license through CPW

(NBA championship not guaranteed)

[Bat Conservation International @BatConIntl]

Are you a Grad student in good standing with a recognized academic institution? Become a 2024 BCI Student Scholar! Beginning October 1 you can apply to receive financial support for your bat conservation research project. Learn more at https://t.co/x9hD9saivK

[Grand Canyon NPS @GrandCanyonNPS]

What does this elk bugle sound like to you?

Bull elk bugling signals rut, the mating period and extra aggressiveness. PLEASE give elk their space (100+ ft/30+ m).

If you find yourself near a bull elk, keep a tree or other large obstruction between you. https://t.co/UvGrA9XUQs