Living with Wildlife
Crossing Paths with Wildlife
As cities throughout Colorado grow, new or expanding subdivisions can impact wildlife habitat. Wild animals are often displaced by development. Some species are able to live in nearby open spaces, parks, undeveloped parcels of land, river bottoms, and on or near bodies of water. Others have adapted well to urban living; skunks and raccoons, for example, seem to thrive in and near cities.
As Colorado’s population and desire for outdoor recreation increase, the proximity of humans to wildlife habitats can disrupt wildlife.
In most situations, though, people and wildlife can easily coexist. The key is to respect the wildness of wildlife. Wildlife is just that - wild. Most dangerous and potentially harmful encounters occur because people fail to leave the animals alone. Wildlife should not be harassed, captured, domesticated or fed. Intentional or inadvertent feeding is the major cause of most wildlife conflict, and it is illegal to feed deer, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, pronghorn, and elk in Colorado.
Wildlife Encounters
Be Prepared to Cross Paths with Wildlife
If you have concerns about an encounter with wildlife:
- Recreate during daylight hours; avoid dawn, dusk, and night.
- Go with a buddy or in groups when you walk, hike, or run.
- Make sure children are close to you and within your sight at all times.
- Reduce the likelihood of an encounter or an attack by being alert of your surroundings. Look around — scan the sides of hills, behind rock outcroppings, under bushes and vegetation.
- Walk with a walking stick - this not only helps you on the trails, it can be used in the rare occasion of wildlife conflict.
- Bring bear deterrent spray and make sure it's stored somewhere handy.
- Carry a noise maker or rocks to throw.
- Consider leaving your pets at home. They can chase, injure, or kill wildlife, or be injured or killed themselves if viewed as either a predator or prey.
- If your bring dogs, keep them leashed or nearby and under voice command.
What Do I Do if I See an Animal?
- Observe animals from a safe distance—safe for you and safe for the animals. You can get a close-up view by using binoculars, a spotting scope, or a camera with a telephoto lens.
- Use the animals’ behavior as a guide. Limit the time you spend watching if animals appear to be stressed.
- Animals at rest need to remain at rest. Don't do anything that might make them move.
- Never chase or harass wildlife. Harassment of wildlife is unlawful, and can be extremely harmful.
- If you see young wildlife like calves, cubs, fawns, etc., their mother is usually close by. Do not approach the young animal, and leave the area quickly.
- Don’t approach any wild animal, especially one that is feeding or with young, or behaving abnormally or aggressively. Most animals will try to avoid a confrontation. Give them an opening to leave the area.
- Move slowly and casually, not directly at wildlife. Allow animals to keep you in view and do not surprise them. Avoid direct eye contact; watch from the corner of your eye.
- Avoid known or potential den sites and thick vegetation that may prevent seeing wildlife.
- If the animals you are observing have their heads up, ears pointed toward you, or appear 'jumpy' or nervous when you move, you are probably too close! Sit or stand very quietly, without making eye contact, or move slowly away to a safer distance.
- Face the animal and back away slowly, if you can do so safely.
- Maintain visual contact with any predator so you can always see what it is doing — but avoid direct eye contact! If you look away, the animal could move and then you will not know where it is or what it’s doing.
- Stay calm. Don’t run or turn your back, and never climb a tree.
- If you have small children with you, protect them by picking them up so they won't panic and run. Try to urge them to remain calm and quiet.
What if an Animal Becomes Aggressive?
- Throw stones, branches or whatever you can get your hands on without crouching down or turning your back.
- Be as big and loud as possible. Raise your and wave your arms. Open your jacket if you're wearing one.
- Try to convince the animal you are not prey and that you may in fact be a danger.
- If attacked, fight back. Animals can be driven away. People have fought back with rocks, sticks, caps or jackets, car keys, garden tools and their bare hands successfully.
- If a wildlife conflict poses immediate danger for the animal or people in the area, call your local CPW office or law enforcement agency.
Living with Wildlife
Practice Wildlife Safety with Your Children
- Keep children close to you and within sight at all times when they play outdoors. Watching from inside the house is not close enough.
- Try to ensure children are inside before dusk and not outside before dawn.
- When hiking, keep kids between adults. Never allow them to lead or trail the group.
- Adults, review our tips on living and recreating responsibly with wildlife with the kids in your life so they can help you keep people and wildlife safe.
Teach your kids to be SMART!
- Stop! Do not run! If you run, the animal may chase.
- Make yourself look big! Put your hands over your head or pull your jacket up over your head. Look as big as you can so the animal knows that you are too tough to mess with.
- Announce firmly “Leave me Alone!” This lets the animal know you are a person and it lets people around you know that you may be in trouble.
- Retreat by backing away slowly. Do not turn your back
to the animal. - Tell an adult about your encounter.
Wildlife You Might Cross Paths With
Bear
Coyote
Moose
Mountain Lion
