Conservation
Part of the allure of living in a mountain community is the stunning beauty of the natural landscape. As part of an active community, it is our job to honor nature's systems and recognize our interdependence with our ecosystem. There is much work to be done in our mountain community and there are many ways to contribute. Whether it's recycling everyday or helping out at a local community garden, every action counts. It's important to become involved in community programs created to foster sustainability in our community. Recycling Recycling is part of the ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ hierarchy and may be the easiest and most effective task you can do to promote sustainability. Either through curbside recycling through your trash collection service or recycling items and nearby centers, this is an easy way to convert waste materials into reusable objects to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution from incineration and reduce water pollution from landfills by decreasing the need for "conventional" waste disposal and lowering greenhouse gas emissions compared to plastic production. Community Gardens Unlike other areas of the country, deer and elk are problems for those who like to grow their own vegetables. To avoid this issue, there are two community gardens in Evergreen, one near Buchanan Park and one near Wilmot Elementary School, to offer residents a place to grow fresh food, herbs and flowers that is protected from wildlife and doesn’t violate HOA constraints on fencing or gardens. Energy Efficiency Lighting
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Coexistence with Wildlife
Possibly one of the major reasons you moved to the mountains was seeing a herd of majestic elk grazing in an open field. In the foothills, we are fortunate to have an enormous diversity of wildlife sharing the land, water and sky with us. Viewing wildlife on a drive or hike in the area is one of the most special things about living in the foothills, but conflicts with wild animals can turn dangerous or even deadly, so it is important to find effective solutions to prevent and respond to encounters with wildlife. In most situations, people and wildlife can coexist. The key is to respect the wildness of wildlife. Most dangerous and potentially harmful encounters occur because people fail to leave animals alone. Wildlife should not be harassed, captured, domesticated or fed. Intentional or inadvertent feeding is the major cause of most wildlife problems, and it is illegal to feed deer, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, pronghorn, and elk in Colorado. Make The Most of Your Wildlife Viewing Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Watchable Wildlife program offers the following tips and advice for rewarding, safe, and responsible wildlife viewing.
Living with Bears Curious, intelligent, and very resourceful, black bears will explore all possible food sources, especially trash cans. If they find food near homes, campgrounds, vehicles, or communities, they’ll come back for more. Bears will work hard to get the calories they need, and can easily damage property, vehicles, and homes. Bears that become aggressive in their pursuit of an easy meal must often be destroyed.
If you see a bear, do your best to chase it away. Yell, blow a whistle, clap your hands, and make other loud noises. But never approach a bear. Living with Mountain Lions Mountain lions are generally calm, quiet, and elusive. They tend to live in remote, primitive country with plentiful deer and adequate cover. Such conditions exist in mountain subdivisions, urban fringes, and open spaces. People rarely get more than a brief glimpse of a mountain lion in the wild. Lion attacks on people are rare, with fewer than a dozen fatalities in North America in more than 100 years. Most of the attacks were by young lions, perhaps forced out to hunt on their own and not yet living in established areas. Young lions may key in on easy prey, like pets and small children. No studies have been done to determine what to do if you meet a lion. However, based on observations by people who have come upon lions, some patterns of behavior and response are beginning to emerge. With this in mind, the following suggestions may be helpful. Remember: Every situation is different with respect to the lion, the terrain, the people, and their activity.
Living with Elk Living in Colorado, it's easy to take for granted our enormous elk herds. After all, Colorado is home to more than 280,000 animals—the largest elk population in the world.
Invasive Species Invasive species are plants, animals, insects or diseases that are not native to Colorado and have harmful negative effects on the economy and environment. They are introduced accidentally or intentionally outside of their native range. Because they are not native to Colorado habitats, they have no natural competitors or predators. Without these checks and balances, the invaders are able to reproduce rapidly and out-compete native species. Invasive species have harmful effects on natural resources and disrupt our use of land and water. Invasive species...
Sources Colorado Parks & Wildlife Website |