Mission:

Our

Wild Aware encourages, supports & enhances the safe & rewarding coexistence of humans & wildlife. 

Wildlife Emergency?

Call *277 Extension 9

Call 911 for crashes & human emergencies

We are residents of unincorporated Jefferson County, Colorado and surrounding mountain communities.

We care about our community and seek ways which enable us to live with our treasured and abundant wildlife in a peaceful and respectful way.

JOIN US FOR THIS UPCOMING EVENT:

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View fullsize Hey guys! 🙋‍♀️ Have you ever had a close encounter with a wild animal and thought "yikes, I better Google how to handle this situation"? 🤔 Well, we've got a better solution for you - donate to Wild Aware! 🦁🦌🐻 They help keep our wil
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View fullsize "Did you know that your donation to Wild Aware doesn't just make a difference, it's also multiplied by funds from the Colorado Gives Foundation? Every dollar you give helps protect our wildlife and their habitats from harm. Let's do our part in
View fullsize https://www.coloradogives. org/donate/Wild-Aware
View fullsize Elk adapt to the snow and frigid temperatures by changing up their diet in winter. When snow is covering the ground elk will eat bark, twigs, and branches from trees like the Aspen. You may also spot a bull elk using his antlers to push away the snow
View fullsize We all live here because we love it and love our wildlife. New residents may not know all there is to know about peaceful coexistence with our wildlife. Through community outreach Wild Aware shares information to keep us and our wildlife safe. Even y
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View fullsize This graphic shows the number of animals COUNTED BY COLORADO DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION MAINTENANCE AND COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE STAFF. We know that for each animal counted on the road or shoulder, another 1-3 were killed and not counted. This is a lo

Our Community

We collaborate with many state and local wildlife agencies, law enforcement, road and highway agencies, not-for-profit groups, and volunteers in our efforts to educate residents and visitors and to help reduce the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions in our community (especially along State Highway 74, also known as Evergreen Parkway).

Wild Aware provides opportunities for education through webinars, events, and programs like Wildlife Watch at Evergreen Lake.

We meet periodically in the Evergreen area to learn about how we can harness resources, discuss solutions, and share the work of implementing solutions.

If you share our passion, we would love to have you join us!

We greatly appreciate your partnership in keeping our community safe for both wildlife and human residents.

Our original mission of wildlife-vehicle collisions:

Our First Mission: Highway 74 Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions

Wild Aware was founded in 2019 to identify methods to mitigate high rates of wildlife-vehicle collisions on Highway 74. This collaboration with Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has resulted in the temporary placement of programmable signs (VMS) for periods of time in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Permanent VMS were placed on Highway 74 at mileposts 4 and 6 in 2024.

Wild Aware continues to search for strategies to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions.

We have worked with state and local wildlife agencies, law enforcement, highway agencies, non-profit groups, and volunteers in our efforts to educate residents and visitors about wildlife and to help reduce the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions in our community. Our Road Aware project will continue to work on these issues. Please join this team if you would like to be involved in wildlife-vehicle mitigation efforts.

Read notes from Wild Aware’s first meeting with CDOT in January, 2020.

Wild Aware Programs

Bear Book Club

Join us for a friendly gathering every quarter to talk about bears, enjoy a pot luck meal, and hang out with like-minded folks!

Road Aware

Learn about a number of initiatives that Wild Aware is spearheading to address wildlife-vehicle collisions and driver safety in our mountain community.

Wildlife Watch

This partnership between Wild Aware, Evergreen Audubon, Denver Mountain Parks and Evergreen Parks and Rec was formed to educate Evergreen Lake visitors about our wildlife as well as provide guidance about elk behavior at the lake during critical calving and rut seasons.

Living With Wildlife

Learn how we are working to keep wildlife wild and communities safe for both people and the wildlife with whom we share a home.

Barbed Wire Warriors

Barbed wire fencing can be the cause of pain and suffering for animals and humans. Join our Barbed Wire Warriors to rid the landscape of this unwanted barrier and let our wildlife roam our land free of entrapment or separation from family.

More about our work

Click here to see slides illustrating our journey of trying to have a wildlife underpass built at Stagecoach and Highway 74.

Wild Aware accomplishments through the years:

  • In 2020, formed Wildlife Watch, a collaborative effort with Denver Parks and Recreation and Evergreen Audubon to share wildlife and environmental information and educational materials with visitors to Evergreen Lake. Wildlife Watch volunteers may discuss elk calving and rut as these take place at Evergreen Lake and Evergreen Golf Course.

  • Designed and provided “Welcome” flyers for new residents and delivered as part of Neighborhood Welcome’s home visits; over 5000 flyers distributed

  • Hosted a field visit with CDOT and road ecologist contractor in September 2020

  • Began our barbed wire removal efforts in 2021 with Denver Mountain Parks

  • Designed and produced colorful wildlife awareness yard signs for our community per Jeffco guidelines in 2022

  • In 2024-placed 2 cameras in Elk Meadow and collaborated with Denver Mountain Parks to place a third camera at Fillius Park. With this camera footage, we hope to gain a better understanding of where wildlife is moving throughout the landscape

  • Worked with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) in Spring 2020 to install a drainage grate at an Evergreen culvert after a fawn was trapped there

  • Requested CDOT to place two portable Variable Message Signs (VMS, see photo below) on Highway 74 during periods of time in 2020, 2021 and 2022. CDOT followed through with plans to install permanent signs in 2024 at mileposts 4 and 6.

  • Established relationships with Jefferson County Commissioners, Jeffco Transportation and Engineering Division, and JEFFTAAG— the Jefferson County Transportation Advocacy and Action Group.

  • Foster ongoing discussions with agencies, non-profits, businesses and others (see partner list here)

  • Formed a Barbed Wire Removal Team to tackle the never-ending task of removing abandoned barbed wire from parks and private property

  • Participated in stakeholders’ meetings for Denver Mountain Parks, CPW’s Partners in the Outdoors conference, and Together Jeffco ten year planing process regarding updates for land use and transportation issues

  • Organized a bear study group, the Wild Aware Bear Book Club

  • See program pages for other work, accomplishments and recognition

Have a question about Colorado’s Wildlife? Ask Colorado Parks & Wildlife.