LIVING WITH WILDLIFE

Check out these quick tips on coexisting with wildlife

Birds

Birds of Prey

Black Bear - see more below

Coexisting: Unwanted Guest

COYOTE

ELK

MOOSE

MOUNTAIN LION

MULE DEER

Reptiles

Bats

Amphibians

COEXISTING: Don’t feed wildlife EVER

COEXISTING RESPECTFULLY IS EASY!

LET WILDLIFE BE “WILD LIFE”

Focus on Bears

Bears have long been a source of controversy In Evergreen as they upend trash cans and hunt down bird feeders. Ways to address bear issues include asking trash haulers to provide bear-resistant containers, talking to Jefferson County commissioners about trash ordinances, and educating residents through social media, knocking on doors, and presenting information to Homeowners Associations (HOAs).

Bears in the news

September 13, 2023 Colorado Parks and Wildlife humanely euthanized a sick male black bear Saturday night in Telluride. The bear, which weighed an estimated 400 pounds, showed signs of infection and was suffering from a severe intestinal blockage caused by consumed human trash. “The bear could not digest food and was very sick,” said CPW Area Wildlife Manager Rachel Sralla. “It all comes back to trash, which we talk about too often when it comes to bear conflicts in Colorado. The reason we had to put this bear down was to end its suffering that was caused by eating indigestible trash.”

The 2021 tragedy of the death of a Durango woman which involved two bears, and an attack on a man sleeping in a tent at a Conifer campground, are both reminders that we must take bears seriously.

Some in Evergreen seem to consider bears as nothing more than very large dogs that inconveniently spill trash or damage the deck getting to a bird feeder. When a car is destroyed or a shed is tossed off its foundation, we get a little more concerned.

When a bear is allowed to wander from neighborhood to neighborhood with impunity, she begins to lose fear of being around us. Each step closer to our homes equals a step closer to her demise.

Wild Aware works with the community to help keep the bears from getting too cozy with us. After all, they are wild animals and require responsible behavior from their human neighbors. Unpredictable, very hungry, and quite large, bears need to live their wild lives & we may have to take definitive steps for them to see us as a threat. It’s not an easy task for us, but if we really care about these creatures, we must take steps to haze them away from our yards and homes. There is much at stake.

What you can do:

  • Contact Wild Aware info@wildaware.org to help us in our mission to share education with our communities and suggest ways to keep bears wild.

  • Join Wild Aware’s Bear Book Group for quarterly gatherings of volunteers and anyone who is a fan of bears. Reach out to us at info@wildaware.org for more information.

  • Visit our social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, and NextDoor to share your experiences, read about bear happenings, and get valuable information about resources and contact numbers.

  • Reach out to neighbors and friends with important information about keeping bird feeders and trash cans out of reach of bears.

  • Secure your own food sources including pet food, backyard livestock like chickens or beehives, trash, bird feeders, and grills

  • Remember: Bears are also attracted to things like diapers and flowery aromas (soap, deodorant). Recycling bins also bring in bears.

“Keeping Bears Wild & Safe

Together, we’re creating a network of communities across Colorado—all dedicated to preserving the welfare of bears and people.”

-Colorado Bear Coalition

COEXISTING WITH WILDLIFE MEANS WE GIVE THEM SAFE PASSAGE ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE.

FENCING IS NOT WILDLIFE FRIENDLY.

DITCH THE BARBS!

ANY DESIGNS OF FENCE ARE HAZARDOUS TO WILDLIFE. BARBED WIRE CAN ENTRAP ANIMALS ATTEMPTING TO JUMP OVER OR SQUEEZE UNDER THE WIRES. YOUNG ANIMALS CAN BE SEPARATED FROM MOTHERS, SUCCUMBING FROM STARVATION OR PREDATION.

PRONGHORN ANTELOPE PREFER TO GO UNDER BARBED WIRE FENCES, SOMETIMES RESULTING IN OPEN WOUNDS ON THEIR BACKS.

IF THERE IS UNUSED FENCING ON YOUR PROPERTY, YOU CAN SIMPLY REMOVE IT (SEE WILD AWARE’S BARBED WIRE WARRIOR PROGRAM). IF YOU CANNOT REMOVE YOUR FENCE, REVIEW “FENCING WITH WILDLIFE IN MIND” FOR IDEAS TO MODIFY YOUR FENCE TO MAKE IT WILDLIFE SAFE.

WILDLIFE MAY ATTEMPT TO JUMP FENCES THAT ARE UNSAFE BECAUSE THEY SEE THE TOP HORIZONTAL BAR AS THE HEIGHT OF THE FENCE, NOT PERCEIVING THE SEVERAL INCHES OR MORE OF VERTICAL FENCING ABOVE THE BAR-THE SPIKED SECTION. THE SUFFERING FROM BEING IMPALED IS UNIMAGINABLE. TRAGICALLY, OTHER WILDLIFE MAY TRY TO FIT THROUGH THE BARS, ESPECIALLY IF A FAMILY MEMBER HAS FOUND A WAY TO THE OTHER SIDE. BECOMING LODGED BETWEEN BARS CAUSES PROLONGED AGONY AND DEATH.

WHEN WE CHOOSE TO LIVE IN WILDLIFE HABITAT, THERE IS NO PLACE FOR SPIKES ON FENCES. THERE ARE WAYS TO MODIFY THESE FENCES. WELDING A BAR ACROSS THE TOP OR SAWING OFF THE SPIKES & CAPPING THE HOLES ARE TWO MEANS OF WILDLIFE-PROOFING SPIKED FENCES.

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN THIS TOPIC? REACH OUT TO US- WE WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE IDEAS FOR GETTING MORE FENCING MODIFIED.

AS WELL, REACH OUT TO YOUR COUNTY TO BE SURE REGULATIONS ARE INCLUDED THAT FORBID THE BUILDING OF SPIKED FENCES. AND BARBED WIRE FENCES.

SPIKED FENCING MUST GO