Are you looking for things to do with your kiddos while they are out of school this summer? Viewing wildlife can be fun and educational! Colorado is home to over 400 species of birds, and over 80 species of reptiles and amphibians! Kids can engage with nature, learn how to treat it with respect, and take some cool pictures to show off to their friends later.

Here are 5 places you can visit to see wildlife this summer. 

1. Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge: This refuge is home to more than 330 animal species including bison, mule, and white-tailed deer. Even bald eagles winter here! You can take an 11 mile drive through the park and drive right next to the bison area. You can also take a number of short hikes, including many woodland and wetland trails, as well as our favorite - a grassland trail called Rattlesnake hill! 
2. Mount Evans Scenic Byway: Bring a lunch and take a drive up this iconic 14,264 foot mountain! It is a 28 mile drive and you can take many stops along the way to view bighorn sheep, pikas, marmots, and mountain goats. Fun fact - this is the highest paved road in North America, so bring a jacket as the temperature gradually drops while you climb up. Some stops we recommend are Echo Lake, the Denver Botanic Gardens Mount Goliath location, and the multiple lookout pull offs. 
3.  Estes Park: At this nationally recognized location, elk can be seen any time, bighorn sheep are seen at Sheep Lake in the summer, and moose frequent willow thickets along the Colorado River.  Overall, there are hundreds of wildlife species to be seen. They will customize your trip for you and make this an experience your kids will never forget. 
4. Guanella Pass:  Look for mountains goats, bobcats, beavers, bighorn sheep, and various bird species as you drive this beautiful 23 mile stretch of road. You will journey between two watersheds - South Platte and Clear Creek, through spruce and aspen groves until you hit the treeline - where the trees stop growing and the tundra begins. There are a number of trails you can hike along and get some incredible photos of the scenery and wildlife! We recommend the famous Guanella Pass Trail - it is easily accessible and not super strenuous. 
5. Wild Animal Sanctuary: This sanctuary is known for rescuing wildlife, especially of predatory nature, and rehabilitating them. There’s a 1.5 mile elevated walkway you can take to view tigers, bears, lions, and more. The animals roam free, so every time you come, there’s a chance to see something/someone different. Since the summers can be hot, come at sunrise or take advantage of the Sanctuary’s Wild Nights program. 

Remember! Anywhere you go:

• Keep a safe distance from wildlife.
• Use binoculars and zoom lenses if you want to observe wildlife closer.
• Never stop or block traffic.
• Never follow or chase animals.
• Observe quietly - there’s a lot to see and hear! 
• Keep all pets on leash.
• Leave each place you stop and visit as you found it! 
• Have fun, be safe, and enjoy nature! 

Photos by No Coast Photography

Our first date out in the field was April 7th, 2019. We successfully captured and inserted PIT-tags in five snakes that will allow us to determine if snakes found on campus are repeat offenders or the activity is at random. ​

Written by Norma Davenport, Lead Research Associate at Adaptation Environmental Services

Stay safe on the trails as rattlesnakes begin to move to their hibernacula! Photo by Ryan Borgmann

As anticipated (and discussed in our previous blog), at least two gravid (pregnant) Prairie Rattlesnake mothers gave live birth to neonates around August 19th this year. The exact number of neonates born this year is unknown, but the average litter size for Prairie Rattlesnakes is 12, however this can vary depending on the age and size of the mother (Hammerson, 1999). Moms stay with their neonates through their first skin shed, which is about 7-10 days after birth. The mothers we are tracking have now moved on to find food before winter. ​

JCOS received two reports of visitor-killed snakes on the trail. Engaging with a snake and leaving a dead snake on the trail is way more dangerous than practicing the 30/30 rule (see below).
 

1. Choosing to attempt to move or harm a snake instead of just leaving it alone increases risk of a bite greatly.
2. A snake that has been harassed and is agitated will almost certainly release more venom than a snake that has simply been surprised. More venom = more negative impact to the patient.
3. A snake that has been left for dead can still have a bite reflex hours after death. That means any pet, child or curious adult could be envenomated when they attempt investigate or handle the deceased snake.

 
This is why killing snakes is not only inhumane, it is also exceptionally dangerous not only to the person killing the snake but also to the hundreds of pets, kids and people that will pass the dead snake after the visitor who killed the snake is long gone.

1. Finally, it is against Park Regulations to kill wildlife, including snakes:

C.9. Wildlife Protection: It shall be unlawful for any person, or any pet under their custody, control or ownership, to harass, chase, harm, capture, kill, maim or possess any wildlife including, but not limited to, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish on Open Space Lands. Fine: $300.00

• Meanwhile, venomous snakes are contributing to saving our lives by being alive.
  • Snakes provide valuable ecosystem services by eating wildlife we consider pests, like spiders, crickets, voles, and mice.
  • Venomous animals, including rattlesnakes, also contribute our health and survival by providing us with medicine. Here’s a recent article about Colorado’s very own venom researcher, Dr. Stephen Mackessy.

Photos by Ryan Borgmann

Before we begin, let's review a few things:

What should you do if you encounter a rattlesnake on a trail?

• ​Use the Jefferson County 30/30 rule:
  • ​Walk 30 feet away from the snake and give it 30 seconds to leave the trail. NEVER attempt to move or harm a rattlesnake. Give snakes space and time to move away from you.
• If it does not move, carefully walk around it, giving the snake at least four feet of clearance.

What should you do if you are bitten by a rattlesnake?

• ​Call 911
• Remain calm
• Sit down and keep the bitten area at or below the level of your heart
• Do not attempt to drive yourself to a medical facility
• Remove rings, bracelets or other items that could restrict blood flow with severe swelling
• Record the time the bite occurred and monitor for severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing.
• DO NOT: cut skin, suck puncture wounds, apply a tourniquet, a​pply ice or water or use a venom extraction kit

​How should you protect your dog?

• Keep your dog on a leash
• Keep them on the trail
• If your dog is bitten by a Rattlesnake:​
  • ​Immediately transport to a veterinary medical facility
  • Call ahead and ensure the veterinarian is prepared for a snake bite emergency
  • ​If possible, carry your pet to reduce activity and the overall effect of venom

Now, we can move on...

What have we done so far this year?
Jefferson County Open Space (JCOS) is working to formalize more recreation opportunities on South Table Mountain. To assist JCOS, Adaptation will be surveying proposed trail routes and parking areas to better understand how rattlesnakes might also be using these areas.  We also want to know how rattlesnakes use the mountain during active months and where they spend the winter. ​To facilitate this,  we will collect and surgically implant transmitters in 25 snakes. 

​So far, we have collected 13 rattlesnakes and Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald, with Alameda East Veterinary Hospital, has  surgically implanted radio transmitters into them. We will continue to collect rattlesnakes until we reach our goal of 25 and we have started tracking the first 13.

If it wasn’t for our awesome volunteers we would not have found so many in such a short time! ​