BATS
Bats are among the most ecologically beneficial, yet unjustly maligned wildlife. There are a few species of bats that inhabit Castle Pines Village during the summer eating thousands of insects, such as mosquitoes, each night. Conflicts will be confined to summer and will generally involve individual or small numbers of bats roosting in sheltered areas of buildings or homes where they or their droppings may be unwelcome. These areas can be secured with wire mesh or netting at night after the bats leave to forage. Bat boxes may also be installed to encourage roosting during the day.
BLACK BEARS
Castle Pines Village is surrounded by bear habitat. Bears may be active at any time, but most active April through November, during morning and evening twilight. When not sleeping they are looking for food. The females emerge from their winter dens in late March to early May. Finding food becomes their primary goal. Bears must forage for significant amounts of food in late summer/early fall in order to survive during their winter hibernation period.
Living with Bears
Black Bears are shy and usually avoid human contact. Most Castle Pines Village residents will never see a bear. Keep your property safe by keeping garbage enclosed and locked, and out of the reach and smell of bears. To eliminate odors, doorways may be cleaned with ammonia. Clean or burn off grease from barbecue grills, and store grill and brushes inside. Hang bird feeders well away from the house, and bring them in at night. Do not put garbage scraps into a composite pile. Please do your part to help keep bears wild by not attracting them to food sources from your home - click HERE to read an article on how to have bear-safe bird feeding.
If You Encounter a Bear
Stay calm, bear attacks are rare compared to the number of encounters. Bears will detect you first and most likely leave the area. If you see a bear that hasn’t seen you, make noise, leave the area, and let the bear discover your presence.
Stop,back away slowly when facing the bear. Avoid eye contact. Give the bear plenty of escape room.
Slowly leave the area,step off the trail on the downhill side and slowly leave the area.
Worst case scenario, fight back if you are attacked, black bears have been driven away when people have fought back with rocks, sticks, binoculars, and even their bare hands.
Remember, a bear wants to avoid you as much as you want to avoid it.
COYOTES
Due to our ongoing conflict with coyotes in the village, we must learn how our actions have helped create this situation, and then we must learn techniques and habits which will help alleviate the problem. First, we must become informed about coyote behavior.
This wild member of the canine family acclimates easily to its environmental surroundings. This adaptability allows it to live in all habitats, ranging from grasslands, deserts, mountains and urban areas. Where there is little food supply, the coyote produces fewer pups, where the food supply is great, the packs increase rapidly. Where the coyote is threatened either by humans or prey, the coyote maintains cautious behavior and nighttime hunting methods. In urban areas, where humans provide an easy food supply such as domestic pets, garbage, pet food and water the coyote population quickly increases, loses its fear of humans, increases its aggressiveness and audacity toward humans and will hunt during daylight hours. They can mate with dogs. Coyotes exhibit very clever hunting methods when hunting alone or as a team. The larger the available prey, the more cunning the tactics they use as a pack to take their prey. The coyote then teaches its young this behavior.
Our responsibility and actions in this equation become increasingly important as the conflict increases. Once again the wily coyote forces us to review our responsibilities as residents living in their territory. They certainly know how to live with us; do we know how to live with them?
As the coyote teaches it’s young to survive, we too must teach our children the important rules for living safely in coyote territory. The destruction of an entire pack will not solve the problem. Another pack simply increases to take its place and they continue to teach their young assertive behavior. Do not provide an accessible food supply, keep pets on leashes and/or monitored when outdoors (even when, within invisible fences,) use loud voices and hostile noises to create discomfort for the coyote. RO-PEL ® an animal, rodent, and bird repellent, may help discourage coyotes from entering your property. Eventually, the coyote will adapt to our efforts to make them less welcome and revert to their more cautious attitude towards humans.
When the coyote becomes less frequently sighted in the village, though occasionally heard in the darkness, and our voles, rabbits and mice once more become their favorite food source, then we can congratulate ourselves for creating an appropriate habitat for the coyote while setting an example for living in peaceful coexistence with wildlife.
DEER & ELK
The Castle Pines Village area has a resident elk herd of more than 400 animals. The herd is sedentary (it does not migrate during the seasons,) but inhabits the open space near Castle Pines Village year-round. Large portions of Castle Pines Village are considered winter range for deer and elk.
Winter range is defined as the area occupied approximately, December 15 through March 15. The most important winter range is at lower elevations, on south-facing slopes, where the snow is at shallower depths and supports the mountain shrubs for the deer and elk diet. Winter range also consists of three components, all occurring within the daily range of deer and elk. These components are foraging areas, bedding/cover areas, and movement corridors.
Foraging areas must support suitable vegetations and must be secluded from human disturbance. Bedding areas are used by the animals during the day and night, usually in conifer stands such as ponderosa pine. Temperatures are warmer as a result of reduced wind velocities, and provide cover and protection from predators and humans. Unrestricted and relatively short movement corridors must be available between bedding/cover and foraging areas.
Large mammal winter ranges are important and limited. Deer and elk put on fat reserves for winter. They have higher energy costs for staying warm, avoiding predators, mating, and supporting a developing fetus. Winter forage is limited and of poorer quality than in the summer. Increased energy demands during winter make a difference between survival until spring and the survival of calves and fawns.
During the development of Castle Pines Village, native vegetation and large trees were preserved where possible. Movement corridors were also preserved throughout the development and the golf courses allowing wildlife movement through these corridors.
AVOIDING WILDLIFE ON ROADWAYS & HIGHWAYS
One large obstacle that both elk and deer face when moving between Castle Pines Village and the open space properties to the west of Castle Pines is Daniel’s Park Road. Deer and elk move through this area year round.
Slow down and be alert. If you see a deer that has just run across the road, slow down and look around. There may be more animals that follow the leader. Elk are generally easier to spot because they are larger and may travel in larger groups. If you see such a group by the side of the road that seems to want to cross (for example, they are staring across the road), give them a break. Pull to the side of the road as far away from them as possible and wait for them to cross. Older cows are generally the leaders in an elk herd and the first elk you will usually see. Be patient; you may get to see a big bull at the end of the group.
Avoiding deer and elk on roads is a matter of being aware when the animals are more likely to be crossing roads. Deer and elk will cross roads in Douglas County year-round, but they are present in larger numbers at lower elevations and cross roads more frequently during spring and fall migration and winter range occupancy. Drivers should be particularly careful on local roads and highways from mid-November to mid-May. Large mammals and predators are most likely to cross roads from around dusk until dawn. This is also the time of day when visibility is the poorest. One mile north of Highway 85 on Daniel’s Park Road is a heavily used wildlife crossing, so be particularly careful in that area.
Drive defensively with deer in mind, obey posted speed limits, and recognize that those deer crossing signs were put up for a reason. Be aware that headlights temporarily blind and confuse animals, causing them to move erratically and unpredictably. If you see wildlife on or near the road at night, slow down and look around. There are probably more animals. The deer you may be watching intently trot off the left side of the road may be followed by a deer approaching the road’s right shoulder.
BOBCATS
The bobcat (named for its short or bobbed tail) is the most abundant and widely-distributed of Colorado’s three cat species and is present year-round in Castle Pines Village. They are about twice the size of a domestic cat, generally 32-37 inches long with a tail about 6 inches in length. They may weigh up to 25-57 pounds and have a life span of 10-14 years. They prefer rocky and wooden areas. Preferred prey of bobcats is rabbits, but they will also eat mice, birds, voles, and squirrels. Sometimes they kill fawns. Bobcat activity can be throughout the day but is usually at dusk to dawn.
Bobcats breed in late winter and spring and produce a single litter each year of one to seven young after a gestation period of about 10 weeks. The nursery is a simple, sheltered area under a rock or log. The young are weaned at about eight weeks of age. Natural predators to the bobcat are great horned owls and sometimes mountain lions and domestic dogs. Bobcats avoid human contact as much as possible.
MOUNTAIN LIONS
Mountain lions are present year-round in Castle Pines Village, but more commonly during the spring because of fawning and calving. Where ever large concentrations of prey are present, encounters with humans have increased. Like any wildlife, mountain lions can be dangerous but with better understanding of their life history and role in the ecosystem, humans can co-exist with these magnificent predators.
Mountain lions vary in size and weight, with males being larger than females. Lions are generally solitary animals with the exception of females and kittens. They are most active at night but can be active any time of the day.
The favorite prey of mountain lions is mule deer, although they will kill elk, porcupines, coyotes, mice and domestic animals. Like most cats they ambush their prey from close range, rather than a long pursuit.
Mountain lions breed throughout the year, but most females give birth to two or three kittens between April and July. Kittens remain with their mothers for approximately eighteen months, improving their hunting skills. Hunting for young mountain lions can be difficult. They often take less formidable prey and can be aggressive toward humans. Protect your pets. Free-roaming pets are prohibited on Castle Pines Village properties. They are also easy prey for mountain lions and other predators. Don’t feed pets outside.
MOUNTAIN LION ENCOUNTER—WHAT TO DO
It is rare for even field biologists to see a mountain lion in the wild, and then it is usually only a brief distant glimpse. Even if you are in an area with a lion, it will almost always detect you and move off without you ever knowing. A Colorado lion researcher recently estimated that the probability of being attacked by a lion in the state is approximately 1:425,000,000. This risk is about equal to being killed by falling space debris. You should not be alarmed about living in lion country or lose any sleep over it, but you should know what to do if you have the privilege of encountering a lion.
It is theoretically safer to hike through lion country if you are part of a group. If you are alone, making plenty of noise will reduce your chances of surprising a lion, but it will also reduce your chances of seeing any wildlife and it will detract from the outdoor experience.
If you are out hiking and you find what you think might be a lion kill (a carcass, partly eaten, and at least partly covered by branches and other local debris, usually scraped in from all sides of the carcass), leave immediately the way you came. Back out of the area slowly and quietly. Keep looking in front of you, and to the sides, constantly scanning 180 degrees. Don’t continue on your way until you are several hundred yards away or well in the open. If you are on Castle Pines Village property, notify Emergency Services (303) 688-6446 or 6447) and have authorized personnel notify the Sheriff’s Department to close the area.
If you are hiking with a dog, make sure it is on a leash. When on Castle Pines Village properties, pets are required to be on a leash. This is not only for the safety of wildlife, but for your safety and your pet’s as well. Unleashed dogs, that have encountered lions while roaming far ahead of their hiking owners, have run back to their owners with the lion in hot pursuit. Other free-roaming dogs may not make it back to their owners.
If you see a lion, STOP AND REMAIN CALM. Do not try to approach a lion, especially one that is feeding or with kittens. If children are with you, gather them around you, instructing them to slowly move toward you, preferably while facing the lion. If the children are small and there are only one or two, protect them by picking them up to avoid them panicking and running. NEVER RUN. Running will stimulate the lion’s predatory instinct to chase, exacerbating the situation.
Talk calmly, yet firmly to the lion to help it identify you as a human. GIVE THE LION A WAY TO ESCAPE. BACK AWAY SLOWLY if you can do so safely. ALWAYS FACE THE LION AND REMAIN UPRIGHT.
Do whatever you can to APPEAR LARGER and therefore, more threatening to the lion. While lions are formidable predators, and while you may feel like “dead meat” standing in front of one, the lion knows that it cannot risk being injured because that could mean death by starvation. Raise your arms, wave them, and hold open your jacket if you’re wearing one. Continue to back away until you’re well out of the area, while constantly scanning the area.
If the lion behaves aggressively (e.g., flattens ears, growls, slowly crouches, advances, exhibits a false charge, or circles) you need to ACT AGGRESSIVELY. Throw stones or throw or thrash branches around, but only if you can reach the objects without crouching down (appearing smaller and more vulnerable) or turning your back (also increasing your vulnerability). Your objective is to convince the lion that you are not prey and that you are a real threat to the lion. It doesn’t matter if you believe it, but the lion must be convinced.
If the lion attacks you, FIGHT BACK. Lions have been driven away by prey that fights back. People have successfully fought back with rocks, sticks, caps or jackets, backpacks, garden tools, and their bare hands. Remain standing facing the lion and, if knocked down, get back up immediately.
SKUNKS
Skunks are one of the wildlife species inhabiting Castle Pines Village that most residents never see. Skunks dig holes in lawns, eat garden produce, scatter improperly contained garbage, den under buildings, spray free-roaming pets, and leave an offensive, characteristic odor when they have been around. Like most potential wildlife conflicts, being aware of skunks and taking some proactive steps, you will likely help you to avoid an encounter.
Few people would consciously attract skunks to their home, but some homeowners’ habits may do just that. Make sure there are no spaces under the house, outbuildings, or woodpiles where skunks could den or seek shelter. Fence gardens to exclude skunks and don’t put any potential foods in a compost pile, even if securely fenced. Don’t feed pets or leave pet food bowls outside, even in a fenced yard. Skunks can dig. Fences should extend one to two feet below ground level. Keep garbage in cans in a garage or shed and don’t put trash out overnight for collection the next day. If you use bear-proof trash cans, garbage will be secure from skunks.
RACCOONS
Raccoons will readily habituate to residential subdivisions and can be entertaining to watch. However, with the exception of odor, they pose all the same problems as skunks, as well as possibly attracting large predators to your home. Taking the same precautions as those recommended for dealing with skunks will avoid virtually all problems with raccoons. The most important of these is not to feed pets outside and bring in bird feeders at night to avoid attracting raccoons.
PORCUPINES
Porcupines enjoy eating the bark from trees, which may result in the loss of the tree. Porcupines are common in oak brush habitat.