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Cecropia Moth (Hyalophora cecropia)

Sunday, May 15th - Photo Of The Week...  Along with the longer, warmer days of Spring comes the emergence of many area insects. Our photo this week features one of the largest insects in our area, the "Cecropia Moth". The Cecropia Moth (Hyalophora cecropia) is not only the largest moth in our area, but also all of North America. These beautiful creatures, whose wingspan can exceed 5 inches, are often seen drying in the early morning sun, shortly after hatching from their cocoon. Cecropia Moths fly at night and are attracted to bright lights. One interesting fact about the Cecropia is that the adults (moth stage) do not eat. Actually, they do not even have a mouth at all! The adult lives a short lifespan of around two weeks with it's sole purpose being to breed. The large antennae of the males are extremely sensitive and can detect the scent of a female Cecropia up to seven miles away. The majority of a Cecropia's life is spent in the larva stage as a caterpillar. These caterpillars are defenseless and make easy prey for birds, small animals, and even other insects.

Friday, May 13th - Chemicals Continue To Contaminate Streams And Properties... Chemicals applied to FDR 128 last year in an attempt to control dust, are still contaminating our National Forest streams, months after their last use. Each rain, or snow, washes a new load of the chemical run-off across residents' properties and into the streams. This chemical contamination shows up clearly as large patches of foam in and near turbulent areas in the water. Trees along the stream are dying off quickly, and the surfactants are surely doing no good for the fish and other aquatic life. Pools of oily sludge are also still present. Below are a series of photos taken on the morning of May 12th, 2005 clearly showing the foaming, which builds up to over 2 feet in depth in spots. Independent testing of sludge left behind by the run-off from FDR 128 in 2004, confirmed the run-off to contain very high levels of Arsenic, Barium and Chromium IV. It should be noted that the use of this chemical on the National Forest road was in direct violation of the written road maintenance agreement, between the National Forest Service and Cedar Park/Cedar Springs Associations, which specifically calls for an aggregate base only.  It's initial and continued use, was and is, being insisted on by 5 or 6 individuals and not a majority of OUR community. It's indeed upsetting to MANY, to know that a FEW, have decided to use OUR yearly road fees, to uncaringly poison US and recklessly destroy OUR properties and OUR environment.

Editorial: It is our opinion, that these irresponsible and quite foolish individuals, should consider a move to the city, where environment and health are not big concerns, play with their chemicals there, and leave the health of OUR forest, OUR pets, and OUR families alone, before further irreversible damage is done. The fact is that the majority of OUR community moved here to get away from exactly this kind of crap, with a desire to live in a more pristine, natural setting. Now, the actions of a few, are needlessly destroying that setting for all of us.

Foam from chemical run-off heading towards North Fork and Big Thompson, a few hundred yards downstream.	Brown tint and heavy foaming from run-off in stream near the waterfall on FDR 128.
Surfactants in run-off cause lagre bubbles, up to 8" in diameter, to form on the surface.	Chemical foam in National Forest stream on May 12, 2005.
View as you approach the stream running along FDR 128 in Roosevelt National Forest.	Patches of foam building to 2 feet in depth.

Thursday, May 12th - Road Chemicals Suspect In Liver Failure Of Dog... It has recently been reported that a dog, and beloved family pet, residing on property contaminated with chemicals from FDR 128, in the Roosevelt National Forest, has been diagnosed as having a previously unseen form of liver failure. Ali, the 12 year old Lab/Husky mix, is in otherwise perfectly healthy condition, with no record of any previous health problems. X-rays have shown that the animal's liver has shrunken to the point of almost being invisible and is barely functioning. The prognosis for the dog is very-guarded to poor.  A top veterinary clinic in the Northern Colorado area, strongly suspects chemical exposure as the likely cause, and has insisted that a necroscopy be performed to determine the exact chemicals responsible for the dogs death.

"We have kept all of our dogs , horses, and children away from any standing water since we found out about the presence of heavy metals and other toxic chemicals in run-off from the road", states the teary-eyed homeowner, "But Ali used to play in a pond we had for our horses prior to our knowledge of the danger and we know she was heavily exposed to the deadly chemicals freely running through our property at that time. We filled the pond in to prevent our horses from drinking the chemicals and now haul water for both our animals and household use. We are 99.9% sure that our well, and local groundwater, has also been contaminated, as we have seen the brown oil-like substance in our toilets and tubs. And nothing can prevent the breathing in of airborne chemical particles in the road dust".

While having a necroscopy performed is very expensive, the concern of possible effects to humans makes it basically a must do. The names of the veterinarian and clinic are currently being withheld pending the outcome of the necroscopy. Should the results indicate that death resulted from the chemicals used on FDR 128, it could have a dramatic, far-reaching impact on the use of such chemicals in and near populated areas. Animal activist groups are reported to be standing by to provide legal support to the homeowner, pending the final test results. More information will be posted here as it becomes available.

Wednesday, May 11th - Severe Thunderstorms Drop Large Hail Across Area... Severe thunderstorms dropped hail up to 2" in diameter across the area Tuesday Evening. The hail, which fell around 7:30pm, was hard and icy causing minor damage to vehicles. Reports across the region indicate that the hail was widespread across Larimer, and surrounding counties. While the size was above average, hail in our area is very common, with the Front Range of Colorado being know as the "Hail Capitol" of the world. Colorado has also earned the title of, "Lightning Death Capitol" of the United States. 

Tuesday, May 10th - Small Plane Down In Larimer County... Larimer County Sheriff’s Office responded this morning to a report of a small aircraft down near the intersection of Mulberry and Timberline in Fort Collins at approximately 10:15 AM.  Both the pilot and passenger walked away from the airplane with minor injuries and were treated at the scene.  The aircraft itself, a 1965 Citabria single engine plane, sustained excessive damage. Brett Williamson, 07/22/57, of Dexter, Missouri, stated that during take off, the plane had no power.  His passenger, Delbert Dean Bishop, 02/12/53, is also from Dexter.  Apparently they had just purchased the aircraft and were flying it back to Missouri.

Monday, May 9th - Escapee Captured... Larimer County Sheriff's Office deputies are now reporting that Craig Dewayne Forbes was taken into custody without incident at 5:55 A.M. this morning at 1707 Palm Drive in Fort Collins.  Forbes was the subject of a countywide search after he had been found missing from the Detention Center last night. 

Inmate Escapes From Larimer County Detention Center... Larimer County Sheriff's Office Detention Center has reported that Craig Dewayne Forbes escaped on May 8th sometime during 8:00 P.M. and 9:00 P.M. during an outdoor recreation period. It appears Forbes climbed onto the security camera mounted high within the outdoor recreation area and broke through the chain linked fence covering that area.  He then used a grappling hook he had fashioned from parts of a metal table together with a rope made from bedding material and other clothing to lower himself down from the roof.  Forbes apparently then slid under the perimeter chain link fence leaving the Detention Center grounds.  Canines from Patrol and man-trackers from the D.C. Special Emergency Response Team (S.E.R.T.) tracked the escapee to the southwest but lost the track near the intersection of Drake and Timberline. 

Forbes was being held on a $300,000 bond for Aggravated Robbery, two counts of Aggravated  Motor Vehicle Theft, Vehicular Eluding, Vehicular Assault, Second Degree Burglary and Theft.  His next court appearance would have been May 16, 2005.  Forbes’ prior criminal history included False Reporting, Second Degree Burglary, Third Degree Assault and Obstructing a Peace Officer. At total of 21 inmates (including Forbes) were in the outdoor recreation area at that time of the escape.  As part of the investigation, the twenty inmates are being interviewed and security tapes being reviewed at this time.

Forbes is described at 5'8" tall with blond short hair and green eyes and is highly tattooed.   Forbes is considered armed and dangerous.  If located do not attempt to contact.   Please call 911. A press conference has been called for 11:00 A.M. this morning at the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office Administration Building, 2501 Midpoint Drive, Fort Collins.  No further information will be released until that time.