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Colorado Parks and Wildlife offices will be closed for the state holiday, Monday, May 25. To honor military members for their service CPW offers active duty military and veteran benefits to enjoy fishing, hunting and state parks.

The Crawdaddy Diaries: Crawfish 101

Are you ready to lift up rocks and peek into the hidden world thriving right beneath your feet? Join Park Naturalist Shelby Martinez at Paco Ponds for a hands-on, splash-filled afternoon uncovering the secret lives of the pond's ultimate cleanup crew: our local crawfish!

A low-angle, close-up photograph of a dark greenish-brown crawfish with large textured claws resting on a wet rock along a muddy shoreline.

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About this Event

Get ready to splash into the secret world hiding just beneath the surface! Join Park Naturalist Shelby Martinez at the Pa-Co-Chu-Puk Ponds for a hands-on, muddy-footprint adventure exploring the fascinating lives of crawfish: the hidden creatures at the bottom of the pond.

They are the ultimate freshwater survivors, the cleanup crew of our wetlands, and expert underwater architects. In this interactive afternoon program, we will lift up the rocks, peer into the shallows, and dive into how these incredible crustaceans eat, build, and keep our pond ecosystems healthy. Best of all, you will get to try your hand at safely catching some local crawfish yourself!

The Details

  • Date: Friday, August 7th
  • Time: 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
  • Location: Pa-Co-Chu-Puk (Paco) Ponds
  • Cost: FREE (Park pass required for entry)

What to Expect

Get your hands dirty and discover the incredible survival skills of our local pond wildlife.

  • Critter Catching: Learn the proper, safe techniques to spot, catch, and handle crawfish without getting a pinch!
  • Pond Ecology 101: Discover how crawfish act as nature’s caretakers and who else relies on them for food in the park.
  • Crayfish Anatomy: Take a closer look at their armored shells, powerful claws, and specialized senses that help them thrive in the dark.

Location

Friday, Aug 7, 2026

1:00 pm

Friday, Aug 7, 2026

2:20 pm

Friday, Aug 7, 2026

1:00 pm - 2:20 pm

Registration is required

No registration required

All Ages

Shelby Martinez

970.318.1799

[email protected]

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