Wellington wildlife area finds friends

By Gary Raham
Wellington Correspondent

On a snowy Feb. 4, seven individuals met at Wellington's Leeper Center to form what they hope will be the nucleus of a citizen's group to "advocate sound wildlife management and habitat improvement and work with the Colorado Division of Wildlife to achieve these goals."

The Friends of the Wellington State Wildlife Area hopes to work closely with Tom Ostertag, the long-time CDOW manager of the property, on projects that will assist him in maintaining the value of the property for hunting, recreation and wildlife habitat.

The wildlife area, originally purchased in 1951, consists of 2,680 acres divided into three parcels: a Wellington unit of 2,200 acres, a Schware unit of 160 acres and the 320-acre Cobb Lake unit. About 115,000 people visit these lands annually.

Bill Brown, a local property owner adjacent to the wildlife area and a proponent of FWSWA, remembers a time when pheasant hunting was an enjoyable experience in the area. With time and population growth, pheasants have largely disappeared while dog training and bird watching activities have grown. Brown insists, however, the area remains used and vital for its human neighbors and the wildlife that finds refuge there. He believes the FWSWA can demonstrate that by rallying community volunteers for worthwhile projects.

Subsequent to the meeting, nearby property owner Nolden Soerensen contacted Ostertag about possible volunteer help. The CDOW manager indicated that he could use some help in April fencing around the northeast side of the Wellington unit. A chapter of Pheasants Forever could also use assistance planting shrubs to help entice pheasants back to the area.

The Wellington unit has been making the news lately because the CDOW is considering the site for an incinerator to dispose of deer and elk carcasses tested for chronic wasting disease. FWSWA, composed mostly of nearby landowners, does not believe this is the best use of the property. One of their goals is to "challenge proposals that threaten the integrity of the wildlife area."

By taking an active role in helping to maintain and improve what they consider to be an important community resource, they hope to demonstrate that this acreage is more valuable as a wildlife area than either a research facility or residential growth property. The land could be subdivided and developed if CDOW sold the property. FWSWA will be looking into how CDOW might exercise that option if the agency chose to do so.

The core group plans to emphasize constructive ways to work with the CDOW while still reserving a role as "watchdog" of the state agency. They will meet again March 8 at the Leeper Center at 6:45 p.m. The group has drafted letters to several CDOW representatives, including Ostertag and Scott Hoover, northeast regional manager, in the hope that they will sketch the history of the wildlife area and outline their management goals.

Those wanting more information about the March meeting or to be informed of future developments may call Brown at 568-7920.