Sharing space with wildlife is essential when living in the mountains. Learn how to prepare your property to be wildlife-safe and protect yourself against wildlife conflicts.

The Big Idea

Helping is harming: don’t feed, rescue or interfere with wildlife.

In Colorado, you will encounter various types of wildlife on your property: Moose, deer, elk, coyotes, fox, mountain lions, bobcats, and more.

Wildlife at Your Home

Being prepared at home ensures you will avoid unwanted wildlife on your property.

• Ensure windows close and doors have adequate handles.

• Seal off any holes or crawlspaces that may invite animals

• Never leave food outside.

• Avoid using bird feeders that are accessible by other animals

• Never leave your trash can out over night. Put it out first thing in the morning on trash day to avoid unwanted visitors

• Keep your pet food inside and close all pet doors overnight

• Clean off your BBQ grills so smells don’t entice

• Fence off gardens or cover with protection

• Don’t leave food in cars overnight and make sure doors are locked (bears can open doors!)

• Ensure livestock are inside or in a protected area overnight, especially chickens

Check out this Wildlife Home Protection checklist from Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Encountering Wildlife

Whether at home or on a hike, you will see wildlife when living in the mountains. Here’s what to do when that happens.

In general, don’t go outside when it is dark, go with a friend or family member, and do not let kids outside alone.

Seeing an animal

• Observe from afar - don’t disturb or interact with the animal in their natural environment.

• Do not touch or approach to take photos! Stay back and don’t follow!

• If you see young wildlife or babies, their mother is nearby and will be cranky!

• No surprises, scares or panics. Face the animal and back away slowly to a safer distance.

• Move slowly and casually, not directly at wildlife. Allow animals to keep you in view and do not surprise them. Avoid direct eye contact; watch from the corner of your eye.

If an animal is aggressive toward you

Hopefully by following the tips above you will never encounter an aggressive animal in the wild, but if you do, follow these instructions

• Convince the animal you are not a prey. Act big and loud. Wave your jacket or raise your arms.

• Find stones or branches to throw near the animal to scare it away (do not throw at the animal unless it is physically attacking you). Try to avoid crouching down to find these items, though, so you don’t look too small!

• If the animal does attack you, fight back with anything you can find on you or on the ground. Consider hiking with a knife or bear spray.

Read more on crossing paths with wildlife in the mountains.