(NewsCore) – Two young girls who were out walking their dog near a park just seven miles from the center of Denver were charged by a mountain lion Sunday.
Wheat Ridge police told The Denver Post the girls were in a wooded area near West 44th Avenue and Robb Street when the encounter occurred.
No one was hurt, and an attempt to track the big cat was unsuccessful.
In a statement issued Sunday police appealed for people to stay clear of Prospect Park, but said the chances were good that the mountain lion was just passing through.
They advised that anyone who encountered a mountain lion should not approach it, should make a lot of noise but stay calm, and should back away slowly. Residents were also reminded to keep small children inside, pets on a leash and trash bins shut tightly.
Coyote Attack
May 24, 2011
COYOTE ATTACK IN ASPEN PROMPTS DOW WARNINGS
ASPEN, Colo. – A pack of coyotes attacked and killed a pet dog in Aspen Friday afternoon, prompting the Colorado Division of Wildlife to remind residents to take precautions in areas where conflicts with wildlife are possible.
An Aspen resident said she and her dog were on a hiking trail on Smuggler Mountain when the attack occurred. The woman reported that she was walking her six-month old Labradoodle in an area where it is legal for pets to roam off-leash when one or more coyotes attacked the puppy after it apparently approached them in a playful manner.
“This is a very unfortunate incident and I feel very badly for this lady,” said Area Wildlife Manager Perry Will. “It is also a sad reminder that pet owners need to keep their pets on a leash and take precautions whenever they walk their pets in areas where they could encounter wildlife.”
Although coyotes are typically shy and reclusive, they are also intelligent creatures that learn to adapt to changing conditions in their surroundings. As Colorado’s growing population continues to encroach on coyote habitat, coyotes can lose their fear of people. Once that happens, coyotes can learn to target pets as prey items and in rare cases, become aggressive in the presence of people.
Division officials also caution that at this time of the year, many coyotes are rearing their young and can be especially aggressive and territorial.
The Division considers any coyote that behaves aggressively toward people to be a risk to public safety and will kill the animal if possible. Division officials recommend reporting any conflict with coyotes to the local DOW office.
Although hunting and other lethal and non-lethal methods have been used to control coyote populations, the Division believes a public that is educated and informed about living with coyotes and other wildlife species is the most effective way to reduce conflicts.
“Like all of Colorado’s wildlife, coyotes can provide an enjoyable wildlife viewing experience, but this incident is a reminder that people need to keep their distance,” said Will.
Will advises pet owners to keep their pets on leashes when walking them, even if the area does not prohibit walking them off-leash. He also has a few suggestions if you encounter a coyote.
“If a coyote approaches you or your pet, use a loud voice to frighten the animal,” said Will. “Throw rocks or sticks to frighten it away.”
The Division also recommends that even around the home, pet owners should keep their pets indoors or in a yard protected by at least a six-foot fence or in an enclosed kennel, and avoid allowing a dog to approach coyotes at all costs, even if the animals appears to want to play. Often an apparent invitation to play is in reality a prelude to an attack.
Pet owners are also advised to avoid feeding their pets outside, which can attract coyotes and other wildlife such as bears into their yard. In addition, garbage should be kept in wildlife-resistant containers and cleaned regularly with hot water and bleach to reduce residual odors.
Residents of Colorado should keep in mind that as long as there is sufficient food and shelter, many wildlife species will readily utilize habitat in urban or suburban areas. If wildlife has made a home near yours, the Division officials strongly recommend taking precautions to avoid conflicts. With a little knowledge and understanding of wildlife behavior and habits, Coloradans can reduce the likelihood of a conflict and live compatibly with native species.
Best Dog Breeds for Hunting
May 21, 2011
Hounds are further divided into sighthounds and scent hounds depending upon the primary sense used to locate quarry. Many fur bearing animals such as jackrabbits, raccoons, coyotes, and large predators are hunted with hounds.
Coonhound — Scent hounds are hounds that primarily hunt by scent. Scenthounds are used to trail and sometimes kill game. They hunt in packs leading the hunters on a chase which may end in the quarry being chased into a tree or killed. Some of these breeds have deep, booming barks and use them when following a scent trail.
Whippet – Sighthounds are different from scenthounds in their methods and adaptations. The long lean head of the sighthound gives it a greater degree of binocular vision. Their speed, agility and visual acuity are particularly adapted for coursing game in open meadows or steppes. They are independent in nature, and are worked singly or in a “brace” of two or three dogs. Sighthounds are generally quiet and placid dogs compared to other hunting breeds
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Don’t Feed The Wildlife
May 15, 2011
It seems like a harmless kind act. However, it has serious consequences which I will review. Feeding cute foxes and raccoons attracts larger animals like mountain lions to your backyard.
Once large cats incorporate your neighborhood into there territory Deer, Cats, and Dogs will start dissapearing without a trace.
What started out as a gesture of kindness for the deer and foxes turned into a political uproar for the safety of the residents and their pets. The Mountain Lions should not be the ones to be punished for this. This is just one example.
Feeding Wildlife — Dont do It
How to Predict the Weather by Studying Clouds
May 13, 2011
You can accurately predict the weather for an impending 24-hour period if you keep in mind several cloud formations. Each type of cloud forms in its own way, and each brings its own set of conditions:
CIRRUS CLOUDS
From the Latin for curled, these clouds look feathered, like an outstretched horse’s tail, and they form high in the sky, at up to 40,000 feet. If the wind is coming from the northeast, east, or south, expect rain in the next 24 hours. With a wind from the southwest, west, or north, it will be clear and calm.
STRATUS CLOUDS
Gray and low, stratus clouds always portend foul weather. With winds from the northeast or the south, count on heavy rain. If the wind is coming from any other direction, it will be overcast with a slight drizzle.
CUMULUS CLOUDS
Cumulus clouds look like cauliflower, and they’re generally as tall as they are wide. They form on sunny days, and it never rains with them overhead. They are low-flying, fluffy white shapes projected against an azure sky.
CUMULONIMBUS CLOUDS
Morphing from cumulus clouds, these ominous, dark clouds are much larger and more vertical. Mustering into towering black masses, they can form the squall line of a cold front and are topped with thunderheads shaped like anvils. Expect wind, rain, thunder, and lightning.
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