Winter disturbance or stress caused by humans jeopardizes an animal’s ability to survive and reduces females’ chances of successfully raising offspring. When we disturb wildlife on public lands it can also push animals onto private land, leading to conflict with landowners, or into transportation corridors, where they are more likely to be road (or train) kill. With advances in outdoor gear and new technologies that have made winter recreation more accessible, along with population growth, recent years have brought more encounters between winter recreationists and wildlife. As a result, recreation impacts on wintering wildlife is a growing conservation concern. The Wintering Wildlife Conservation Initiative seeks to educate everybody who gets outdoors in the winter about our potential impacts on wildlife and provide tools to guide decision-making. Together we can protect wintering wildlife!
Wintering wildlife in Minturn and the surrounding Eagle River Valley include deer, elk, moose, and many others. To learn more, visit https://www.winteringwildlife.org/whats-the-issue.
The Town of Minturn, along with local Colorado Parks & Wildlife staff, want to remind locals and visitors to be mindful and respectful of wintering wildlife. When winter weather sets in, a variety of wildlife, but specifically deer and elk, get pushed to lower elevations to find food sources and avoid deeper snowpack. Wintering grounds for deer and elk often exist close to, or within the boundaries of towns and other infrastructure. It is important to give wildlife plenty of space during the sensitive winter months, as continued disturbance of these animals can spell death for them in the winter. Using the "thumb rule," if holding your thumb up to the animal does not completely cover it, you are too close! Back up! It is also important to recognize the impacts that dogs can have on wildlife. Off leash dogs, running at large, can easily chase wildlife resulting in injury or at a minimum the significant unnecessary expenditure of calories. Calories that these animals must conserve in order to survive winter. Please consider leashing your dog whether it is an off leash area or not. If you encounter wildlife this winter season, while giving them plenty of space, also consider waiting for wildlife to leave the area, or consider turning around. As moose are becoming more prevalent in the Minturn area, residents and visitors should take particular caution in the event of an encounter. Moose often react aggressively to the presence of dogs, and moose are not afraid of humans. Cow moose can aggressively defend their calf, while bulls can aggressively defend their territory. It is best to never approach them, give them plenty of space or to leave the area.
Be Bear Aware!
Leaving your garbage at the curb the night before pick-up is breaking the law! The town passed its first Wildlife Protection Ordinance effective April 1, 2005. This law requires residents and business owners to secure garbage containers with a wildlife resistant or wildlife proof system, or be kept within a fully enclosed and secure structure. Residents may place their containers at the curb at or after 6:00am on the morning of the pickup. Read the Wildlife Protection Ordinance here.
For more information and tips on living in bear country, please visit https://bearwise.org/
Moose and other wintering wildlife are very active in our area throughout the winter. Please use caution:
Watch from a distance!
Keep dogs away from moose.
The Town of Minturn, along with local Colorado Parks & Wildlife staff, want to remind locals and visitors to be mindful and respectful of wintering wildlife. When winter weather sets in, a variety of wildlife, but specifically deer and elk, get pushed to lower elevations to find food sources and avoid deeper snowpack. Wintering grounds for deer and elk often exist close to, or within the boundaries of towns and other infrastructure. It is important to give wildlife plenty of space during the sensitive winter months, as continued disturbance of these animals can spell death for them in the winter. Using the "thumb rule," if holding your thumb up to the animal does not completely cover it, you are too close! Back up! It is also important to recognize the impacts that dogs can have on wildlife. Off leash dogs, running at large, can easily chase wildlife resulting in injury or at a minimum the significant unnecessary expenditure of calories. Calories that these animals must conserve in order to survive winter. Please consider leashing your dog whether it is an off leash area or not. If you encounter wildlife this winter season, while giving them plenty of space, also consider waiting for wildlife to leave the area, or consider turning around. As moose are becoming more prevalent in the Minturn area, residents and visitors should take particular caution in the event of an encounter. Moose often react aggressively to the presence of dogs, and moose are not afraid of humans. Cow moose can aggressively defend their calf, while bulls can aggressively defend their territory. It is best to never approach them, give them plenty of space or to leave the area.