Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
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Superintendent Amnesty Kochanowski announced the selection of a new leadership team member at Devils Tower National Monument, Chief Ranger Matt Roland. He began June 20. Roland will lead the visitor and resource protection department while supporting several permanent and temporary staff with overseeing the protection and safety of the nation’s first national monument. Matt holds a degree in Park and Recreation Management and brings more than 20 years of NPS visitor and resource protection e...
Wildlife researchers have confirmed the presence of white-nose syndrome (WNS) in bats at Devils Tower National Monument. While this is the first confirmation of WNS in the state, the fungus that causes WNS, Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), was potentially detected in southeast Wyoming as early as 2018. Biologists from the University of Wyoming discovered evidence of WNS during surveys completed in early May 2021, when they captured and sampled bats to test for the fungus. The work was in collaboration with the Wyoming Game and Fish...
With summer in Sundance comes the sound of happy kids as they splash into the pool to cool off. This year’s hours are from noon until 5 p.m. from Monday to Saturday, with open lap swim from 5 to 6 p.m. on those days and free swim time on Wednesdays between 6 and 8 p.m....
The Black Hills National Forest announces the Moon Walk interpretive program schedule for the 2021 season. In its 26th year, Forest visitors will explore the importance of caves and karst systems, beavers, learn about the stars in the night sky and nocturnal animal adaptations. The focus this year is to expand visitor awareness beyond the boundaries of the Forest. Speakers include The National Speleological Society, The Nature Conservancy, Black Hills Parks & Forests Association and the Black Hills National Forest. Moon Walks are held on a...
The Sundance Rod and Gun Club hosted their annual kids’ fishing derby last Saturday with an amazing turnout of 57 kids. The club provided hot dogs, sodas and prizes for each participant. McKinlee Kylander had the longest trout at 11” and Jackson Phillips and Teddy Blakeman tied for second at 10¾”. Longest sucker was Kendall Sproul at 13” followed by Aryiah Dodd at 11½” and Kinnley Garoutte at 9¾”. The first fish was caught by Chaisley Nehmer....
George and Betty White always wanted to leave a legacy for their community. This Memorial Day weekend, the foundation that has worked for more than a decade to fulfill their vision invites you to visit a new recreation destination on the outskirts of Sundance. Sundance White Ranch Park is a 100-acre private ranch at the base of Sundance Mountain. It features a number of trails for hikers, bikers, dog walkers and runners, as well as space to simply relax with a picnic and the family. “When G...
Sundance Rod and Gun Club will be sponsoring a kids’ fishing derby at the Sundance Pond on Sat., May 22. The derby will start at 1 p.m. and conclude at 3 p.m. Registration will start at noon. The derby is free for all kids 13 years old and younger. Hot dogs and soda will be provided. Prizes will be given to all kids. Questions – please contact Douglas Ramsey, 307-290-2901....
Devils Tower National Monument has announced that the Belle Fourche River Campground and picnic area will be opening on May 15. Cook Lake will also be opening for both camping and day use on May 14. Popular recreation spot Cook Lake has seen its season interrupted several times over the past few years, first by concern over a potential landslide hanging over the lake and then to allow for planned construction of a new dam. This year, however, it will remain open “all season long for the first t...
Elk populations in Wyoming’s major herds are nearly 30% over objective Wyoming Game and Fish Department personnel revealed as their governing commission approved hunting seasons and nearly 2000 additional licenses Wednesday. Some 101,800 elk populate the state’s 28 closely monitored herds, according to the estimates presented in the agency’s proposed annual hunting-season-setting regulations. That’s 28.6% above the objective for those groups. In addition to the 28 herds for which the agency makes individual population estimates — through t...
By Ed Mignery, WY Tree Farm Committee and Jeremy Dedic, WY State Forestry Division Have you ever taken something for granted, then really looked at it and realized how special it is? I have passed oak trees in our area many times. I did not give them much though or even a second glance. They are just bur oak. What a minimizing statement, “just bur oak”. The current state champion bur oak tree is located by Sand Creek near Beulah. This tree’s trunk is over 40 inches across. The branches reach an impressive height and width. It is a beaut...
Site Name Elevation (ft) Current Snow Depth (in) Current Snow Water Equivalent (in) 30-yr Median (1981-2010) SWE (in) Last Year’s SWE (in) Current Percent of 30 Year Median SWE Bear Lodge Divide 4680 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.8 - Blind Park Snotel 6870 10.0 4.3 7.2 6.7 60 Cole Canyon Snotel 5870 13.0 4.4 5.8 No data available 76 Ditch Creek 6880 16.7 4.5 3.6 7.2 125 Little Bear Run 6240 5.1 1.2 2.4 4.3 50 Mallo 6420 11.1 3.0 5.9 7.4 51 Mount Tom 5560 0.0 0.0 2.9 4.4 0 North Rapid Creek Snotel 6250 17.0 5.7 6.7 7.4 85 Reuter Canyon 6280 3.9 1.5 7.8 10.6 1...
A class of ten students recently completed the Wyoming Game & Fish Department Hunter Education Class held in Sundance. This class involves about 17 hours of class instruction, marksmanship, gun handling and the passing of a written test. The class is offered free of charge in Sundance with sponsorship by the Sundance Rod & Gun Club, books and materials by the Wyoming Game and Fish Dept., facilities provided by the Crook Co. Fair Board and time donated by several certified volunteer instructors. Special sessions were given by local game warden...
Rock climbing routes on the southwest face and the southwest edges 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...
ALADDIN, Wyo. — Ranchers through the Northern Great Plains are in the midst of calving season right now, and that is true at the Ryan Ranch, located north of Aladdin, Wyo. But unlike nearly every other rancher this year, the Ryan Ranch welcomed a set of triplet black angus calves on March 9. “You just don’t hardly hear of anybody having them,” said rancher Scott Ryan. It was his wife Tami who first spotted the tiny black calves laying in the field, their mom nearby. “I came over the hill, and I...
There’s a new opening date for Wyoming’s spring turkey season. Hunters should plan for an April 20 opener in four of the state’s five hunt areas. The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission made this change to align more appropriately with the bird’s biology, simplify regulations and increase hunter opportunity. “We worked through the season setting and public input process last year to further simplify the hunting regulations for wild turkey. This new spring season is also more biologically sensible,...
Q: “What can I do to prevent the spread of zebra mussels found in moss balls?” A: Zebra mussels, an aquatic invasive species, were recently found in moss balls sold through Wyoming pet stores. Moss balls are used in aquariums for decoration and water oxygenation. There are three main things the public can do to help prevent the spread of invasive zebra mussels. If you have an aquarium with moss balls, don’t flush moss balls or pour any of your aquarium water down the drain. First, remove any fish or pets from the aquarium, then boil the moss...
For a number of years, Crook County and the U.S. Forest Service have been working to create a map of the area that identifies ownership of particular roads and the entity responsible for their maintenance, a project that will ensure the public always has access to thoroughfares. As the first of the FERTA easements needed to make that happen reaches completion, District Ranger Mike Gosse provided an update last week on what the project involves – and how it might be possible to speed up the process. While there may be a “perceived lack of pro...
The impacts of wildfire and the mountain pine beetle have had serious negative impacts on the Black Hills National Forest, prompting an ongoing discussion about the best way to manage the forest’s health and sustainability into the future. An advisory board formed to gather data about the standing forest inventory and provide advice to the U.S. National Forest Service believes the best way to manage the problem is to maintain commercial timber programs at their current levels. However, a draft report from the U.S. National Forest Service i...
A Wyoming Game and Fish Department authorized and approved Hunter Education Class is scheduled in Sundance just in time for prospective new hunters to get certified before the spring wild turkey season in the Black Hills. Even if you never hunt, the class provides students of all ages valuable information about firearm and archery safety, wildlife management, habitat conservation, outdoor survival, law and regulations, respect and responsibility to wildlife, property owners and hunting companions and much more. Wyoming law requires virtually...
Bald eagles often migrate during winter in search of better sources of food. This particular local resident, pictured near Rupe Hill during the cold snap, may be wishing he’d gone a little further south this year....
Winter arrived with a vengeance this week, bringing frigid temperatures, cold winds and a few inches of much-needed snow. Not everyone was displeased by the new state of their digs, though. Above, a turkey and fawn enjoy each other’s company as they forage through the drifts for a bite to eat....
A mountain lion hunt can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience even for the most avid of hunters, which is why volunteers from across northeast Wyoming were thrilled to provide one here in Crook County for a young man who recently recovered from leukemia. The experience was organized by Oconto River Kids, a Wisconsin-based nonprofit with the sole purpose of providing outdoor activities for kids with life-threatening illnesses. The charity connected 16-year-old Austin from Cody with county...
The Bearlodge Ranger District of the Black Hills National Forest is working with Wyoming State Forestry Division to treat insect- and disease-infected trees, reduce hazardous fuels and restore or improve forest, watershed or rangeland conditions and wildlife habitat. The Wonder 1 Timber Sale has been announced as part of this collaborative effort and by utilizing the Good Neighbor Authority (GNA), which was authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill. The sale will treat almost 900 acres of public land that will provide an estimated 5,499 CCF in saw...
Forest Managers are working to reduce hazardous fuels across the Black Hills National Forest. Districts across the Black Hills National Forest are focusing efforts on burning thousands of hand and machine slash piles. Piles are created from timber sale slash and tree thinning operations. “It is very important to reduce fire and insect hazards by reducing fuel buildup,” said Jason Virtue, Black Hills National Forest Fire Management Officer. Smoke will be visible and may impact local com...
Site Name Elevation (ft.) Current Snow Depth (in.) Current Snow Water Equivalent (in.) 30-year Median (1981-2010) SWE Last Year’s SWE Current Percent of 30-Year Median SWE Blind Park Snotel 6870 7 1.9 3.2 3.6 59 Cole Canyon Snotel 5870 6 .8 2.2 2.5 36 Ditch Creek 6880 8.7 1 2 3.7 50 Little Bear Run 6240 6 .7 1.7 2 41 Mallo 6420 10.8 1.4 2.9 3.3 48 Mount Tom 5560 6.9 0.9 1.8 2.5 50 North Rapid Creek Snotel 6250 10 2.3 3.2 3.3 72 Submitted by Sherry Burr, NRCS...
