Meet the A-Team: Patrick King
Our RFSP Advocacy Team, aka the A-Team, is made up of passionate valley residents who amplify this work through their networks, stories, and voices. They show up in whatever way fits them best, from reaching elected officials to sharing personal wildlife encounters to spreading the word. This season, we're spotlighting Patrick King, Senior Director of Partnerships at Protect Our Winters, a valley resident since 2016, and one of the original RFSP volunteers. PK, as commonly nicknamed, was drawn to RFSP after witnessing firsthand how development, recreation, and traffic pressure the wildlife that make this valley what it is and his desire to help make life a little easier for them. We sat down with PK to learn more.
What’s your day job?
I’m Senior Director of Partnerships at Protect Our Winters (POW). POW is a non-profit that mobilizes the outdoor community in support of clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment. In my role, I work with brands that support POW’s work financially, and get involved in our campaigns as active advocates.
How long have you lived in the Roaring Fork Valley, and what brought you here?
I’ve been in the valley since 2016. I’m originally from Maine and moved to Vail after college to ski bum, then Denver to “get a real job.” After a couple years in Denver, my wife and I had the chance to move up to the valley for jobs. She works at Aspen Snowmass and at the time I worked for Backbone Media.
What's your most memorable wildlife encounter in the valley?
I was fishing on the Roaring Fork near Cattle Creek and saw a bald eagle chasing an osprey that had a fish in its talons. It was quite the chase! Eventually the osprey dropped the fish and the bald eagle caught it out of the air.
What's your favorite spot in the valley and why?
I have two…first is Yule Creek outside of Marble. To me, it’s the best skiing in the world in the winter and a great hike/trail run in the summer. My other favorite spot is wherever I’m sitting on the opener of a deer or elk hunting season. I hunt all fall, mostly in the valley, and love early, cold, mornings watching the landscape come alive. Bugling bulls is always a nice bonus.
What made you want to get involved with Roaring Fork Safe Passages?
The wildlife in this valley is precious and essential to the fabric of it. At the same time, it’s under so many pressures from development, fossil fuel extraction, recreation, and other factors that I wanted to be a part of something that helped them. Don’t get me wrong, I drive a truck, own a house on this landscape, and love recreating outside, but I think we can be more thoughtful about how we do it, and take simple steps like keeping wildlife off roads to make life just a little bit easier for them.
Have you ever had a personal experience with a wildlife-vehicle collision? How did it affect you?
Unfortunately, yes. I’ve hit three mule deer - two in NW Colorado while driving to Wyoming, and one on 82 in Willits. It was heartbreaking for me. I try so hard to be cautious and aware of wildlife on the roads, but sometimes it’s not enough. To me wildlife on the road is a sign of just how hard we’ve made things for them. Hitting and killing one of them makes me feel that even more.
What's always in your car/backpack when you're out in the valley?
In my truck….some type of candy in my center consul, two car seats in the back for my two daughters, and a giant bag of unorganized straps for who knows what. In my pack….also some type of candy, my InReach to stay connected in case of emergency, a puffy no matter what the season, and binoculars for taking a closer look at wildlife when I’m lucky enough to cross their path.
If you could be any animal that uses our valley, which would you be and why?
Fox. I love foxes, how intelligent, resourceful, curious, adventurous, and athletic they are. Someone once told me that if you see a fox, it means you’re in the right place at the right time, so I think they’re good luck too.
What's been the most rewarding part of being a RFSP advocate?
Seeing the progress Cecily and the team have made and knowing I’ve played a tiny part in it. It’s amazing what the team has accomplished and I’m proud to be a part of it.
What gives you hope about this work for the future?
The fact that so many people from different backgrounds have come together in support of this cause gives me hope. Hunters, runners, scientists, ranchers, parents, etc. coming together is really inspiring. And it’s necessary, we need everyone at the table to get this done.
