Stories in this list received the most page views on postindependent from August 18-25.

1. Colorado Parks and Wildlife is still searching for depredating Copper Creek wolf as it confirms August livestock attack 

For the past month, Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff have been unable to locate and kill a second Copper Creek wolf responsible for livestock attacks in Pitkin County. In the meantime, the agency has confirmed an additional wolf depredation in the county — marking the eighth attributed to the Copper Creek pack this year. 

On Monday, Aug. 18, Luke Perkins, a public information officer for Parks and Wildlife, confirmed that the agency is “still in an active removal period.” 

The wildlife agency killed one of the pack’s yearlings in May in an attempt to sway the wolves away from preying on livestock — and toward native ungulate populations — after they were connected to four attacks between May 17 and May 25. 

-Ali Longwell 

2. Garfield County Commissioners approve permit for nearly 40 new gas wells outside Rifle 

The Garfield Board of County Commissioners on Monday unanimously approved a permit request for the construction of almost 40 new gas wells outside of Rifle.

Proposed by TEP Rocky Mountain LLC, the development will include the construction of a new well pad on private property owned by Clough Sheep Company LLC, around five miles northwest of Rifle and on the south side of the Roan Plateau. The pad will support 39 new directionally drilled natural gas wells, according to the permit application, which will have a production phase of around 30 years. 

Additionally, TEP will construct an access road along the existing two-track road and a pipeline system needed to support the wells with existing infrastructure that can be used for produced water, natural gas and condensate transport. 

-Julianna O’Clair 

3. Carbondale paraglider breaks continental distance record 

Imagine descending from nearly 18,000 feet on a down draft at 1,000 feet per minute or being shot away from earth at twice that speed.

These are the conditions Pete Thompson, a Carbondale resident for 16 years, potentially faces as he takes to the sky every time he paraglides. Thompson broke the North and South American paragliding distance record on Wednesday, flying for 10 hours and five minutes in a 305-kilometer triangle — the third time he broke the record this month. 

He said it’s difficult to describe the ins-and-outs of paragliding to nonflyers. 

-Skyler Stark-Ragsdale 

4. Derby Fire estimated at 839 acres as of Wednesday morning 

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 9:35 a.m. with new information from a morning report

The Derby Fire, located north of Dotsero in White River National Forest grew to 839 acres Tuesday evening, according to the Watch Duty app. The measurement is more than three times the 245 acre estimation Tuesday evening.

The growth has prompted evacuation orders in the area of Sweetwater Lake and a complete closure of Colorado River Road.

-Vail Daily Staff report 

5. Lee Fire reaches 73% containment as crews shift to focus to cleanup, chipping work 

The Lee Fire south of Meeker in Rio Blanco and Garfield counties grew more stable Thursday, reaching 73% containment while producing visible smoke columns from hot interior pockets, according to the Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team.

The fire remains mapped at 137,755 acres, with 426 personnel assigned. For perspective, the Hayman Fire, which burned near Colorado Springs in 2002 and is the fourth-largest wildfire in state history, scorched 137,760 acres. Current resources on the Lee Fire include five helicopters, 25 engines, two hand crews, 13 water tenders and five bulldozers.

The nearby Elk Fire is fully contained at 14,518 acres, although suppression repair work continues.

-Taylor Cramer