Saving All the Pieces: Taking Action to Save Imperiled Wildlife

“Saving All the Pieces: Taking Action to Save Imperiled Wildlife”
Dave Erickson

The Roaring Fork Watershed, from Independence Pass to the Colorado River, is a million acres of rich biodiversity with thousands of native plant and animal species. Under the patina of natural abundance, wildlife populations are in significant decline here: elk and deer populations are down 30% to 50%, and Bighorn sheep have lost 75% of their kind. All in the last ten years! Similar declines likely occur in many other species, diminishing ecosystem integrity. Join Dave Erickson, Stewardship Director for Aspen Valley Land Trust, for a visual tour of this remarkable watershed and its wild inhabitants. 

Dave was born and raised in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. and first moved to Colorado to attend Fort Lewis College in Durango. After completing his undergraduate degree in Environmental Biology, he worked for the Teton Regional Land Trust in Driggs, Idaho where he gained a deep appreciation for the important work land trusts do. He has also worked as a field biologist and natural resource specialist across the U.S. and in the East African country of Tanzania. He completed a masters degree in Wildlife Science at the University of Arizona and eventually found his way to the Roaring Fork Valley, where his wife grew up. Dave joined AVLT in January of 2015 and currently lives in Carbondale. He enjoys a continuing collaboration with ACES, which serves as a member of the Science Team that guides this mission of wildlife study and recovery.

What is Wild Perspectives?

ACES’ brand new Wild Perspectives speaker series features exciting accounts of world travel, adventure, and the natural world through stories and visual media in partnership with The Collective and the Town of Snowmass.

From January through March, this speaker series takes place every Tuesday evening at 6PM at The Collective, providing an opportunity for community-building and story-telling that engages Aspen and Snowmass locals and visitors alike.