Stay safe this Labor Day weekend near water, wildlife, and wildfires
Bridget O'Rourke
DENVER – Coloradans and out-of-state visitors play an integral role in keeping our state parks clean, living in harmony with wildlife, and making the outdoors safer to explore. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) offers a few outdoor tips before the holiday weekend to help you balance outdoor recreation with safety and mindful conservation.Know Before You Go
Create your outdoor adventure based on the weather forecast, your skill level, and what safety gear is required. If the area you want to explore has terrible weather, pivot your outdoor plan to avoid a dangerous situation.
- Use the State Park Finder to discover outdoor activities at each state park.
- Download the free COTREX app to find trail maps and customize your adventure.
- Camping reservations are required at Colorado state parks.
- Stay hydrated: Bring more water than you think you (and your pet) will need.
- Wear sunscreen: Use the free sunscreen stations at select state parks.
Life jackets save lives. The majority of water-related deaths occur because people are not wearing a life jacket. Colorado waters are not like pools. Lifeguards are not on duty, and water temperatures are significantly colder.
- Wear a life jacket
- Dress accordingly and protect yourself from the dangers of cold water shock.
- Paddleboards and kayaks are considered vessels, and life jacket requirements apply.
- Rain and wind can raise water levels quickly and without notice.
- Clean, drain, and dry your boat to help prevent the spread of aquatic nuisance species (zebra mussels). Find a Boat Inspection and Decontamination Site.
Black bears in Colorado are entering hyperphagia and will spend up to 22 hours a day trying to search out and eat as much food as possible as they fatten up for winter. In the coming months, it is critical that people are proactive in removing all attractants from outside homes and campsites to prevent conflicts with black bears. Learn more about bears in Colorado at cpw.state.co.us/living-bears.
Bear-proofing your home:
- Keep garbage in a well-secured location. Only put out garbage on the morning of pickup.
- Clean garbage cans regularly to keep them free of food odors: ammonia is effective.
- Keep garage doors closed. Do not leave pet food or stock feed outside.
- Use a bear-resistant trash can or dumpster.
- Bird feeders are a major source of bear/human conflicts. Attract birds naturally with flowers and water baths. Do not hang bird feeders from April 15 to Nov. 15.
- Don’t allow bears to become comfortable around your house. If you see one, haze it by yelling at it, throwing things at it and making loud noises to scare it off.
- Secure compost piles. Bears are attracted to the scent of rotting food.
- Clean the grill after each use, and clean up thoroughly after cookouts.
- Lock your doors when you’re away from home and at night.
- Keep the bottom-floor windows of your house closed when you're not at home.
- Do not keep food in your vehicle; roll up windows and lock the doors of your vehicles.
- When car-camping, secure all food and coolers in a locked vehicle.
- Keep a clean camp, whether you’re in a campground or in the backcountry.
- When camping in the backcountry, hang food 100 feet or more from the campsite; don’t bring any food into your tent.
- Cook food well away from your tent; wash dishes thoroughly.
Fire safety is a state-wide effort, and CPW encourages Coloradans to always practice fire safety.
- Check fire restrictions or bans at www.coemergency.com.
- Download the free Colorado Trail Explorer (COTREX) app for active wildfire alerts.
- Use designated campfire areas when allowed and available.
- Drown fires out with water until you can touch the embers.
- Never leave a campfire unattended.
- Avoid parking or driving on dry grass. Check your tire pressure, exhaust pipes, and whether chains or exposed wheel rims are dragging from your vehicle, which may create sparks.
Join us in keeping Colorado, Colorado. Get a $29 Keep Colorado Wild Pass with your next vehicle registration and support state parks, search and rescue teams, avalanche safety, wildlife conservation, and outdoor education. Learn more at cpw.info/keepcoloradowild
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 43 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.