Posted: Saturday, February 2, 2008 12:00 am
GUNNISON, Colo. (AP) - Deer facing starvation because of deep snow in western Colorado's Basin are getting help from an unexpected source - the Molson Coors Brewing Co.
The Golden-based brewery plans to donate more than 100,000 pounds of spent grain to state wildlife officials to help feed the herd, which numbers about 21,000.
The grain, a byproduct of the beer brewing process, will be processed into large wafers the deer can digest easily.
The Colorado Division of Wildlife began feeding deer and other big game in the Gunnison Basin last month after a series of storms dumped several feet of snow and temperatures plunged below zero.
Hundreds of volunteers are helping state employees distribute the feed by snowmobiles and tracked vehicles.