In elk population reduction, Colorado Parks and Wildlife biologist finds a silver lining

For 36 hours last month, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Biologist Eric Vannatta rode in a McDonnell Douglas 500 helicopter as a part of a team tasked with counting the number of elk ranging in the state’s northwest region. Taking off from the Steamboat Springs airport and flying across Routt and Jackson Counties at an altitude of 200 to 400 feet off the ground, the biologist said it was easy to spot a bull moose by its rack of antlers. But with a herd of elk, the helicopter would need to...