If you live next to a natural area – and there are many drainages, waterways and other natural areas in the metro region that provide habitat for wildlife – here’s a true-or-false quiz for you:
1. If you encounter a coyote, you should make “kootchie-coo” sounds and offer food to encourage it to come close.
2. “Dog poo” is also natural, so it can be thrown over the fence into natural areas.
3. You can help cute little raccoons or foxes by putting food out for them.
4. Open spaces are ideal places to let your dog or cat run free.
5. Snakes that venture into your yard are “out of bounds” and should be killed.
6. Lost baby birds should be picked up and placed in a safe place.
If you answered “true” to any of the above – or if you live in Greenwood Village or Lone Tree, where residents recently complained to The Denver Post that they were upset by numerous encounters with coyotes – you may want to know about a program called “Nature as Your Neighbor: The Joys and Responsibilities of Living Next to Nature.”
The program, jointly developed by the Plains Conservation Center and the city of Aurora, includes interactive classes that use humor to educate. The classes, which reach several hundred people each year, begin with a “call to order” of the local wild HOA (Habitat Owners Association), with the meeting frequently interrupted by announcements in the voice of the “coyote” or “dung beatle.” “Misconception cards” point out common mistakes about coexisting with wildlife, while “surprise cards” help people know what to do when unexpectedly encountering a wild creature.
Each program usually has a major focus, according to Fran Blanchard, director of education for the Plains Conservation Center. For example, recent programs have focused on why people should keep cats out of natural areas (because they kill songbirds and can themselves become “lunch” for an owl, fox or coyote). Another popular topic is “watershed etiquette.” (Don’t wash your car in the driveway where the runoff can get into nearby streams, for example).
Back to the quiz. Mary Ann Bonnell, lead naturalist for the city of Aurora, provided these answers:
1. Don’t befriend a coyote. If you encounter one, make yourself look as big and mean as possible. A coyote that is comfortable around people can become a hazard to people and pets.
2. Don’t throw dog waste into a natural area. It contains nitrates and bacteria that can get into the waterways. (Yes, foxes and coyotes also “go” in the wild, but in most neighborhoods there are far fewer of them than there are dogs).
3. Don’t feed wildlife. This includes leaving dog food outside where wild animals can eat it. For their own safety – and your own – wild creatures should remain wary of people and should not be attracted by feeding.
4. Domestic cats and dogs can do a lot of damage to wildlife and should not be allowed to run loose in natural areas.
5. Snakes – even rattlesnakes – have their place in the world and shouldn’t be killed. Give them a wide berth, and try turning the sprinkler on to encourage them to return to their own habitat.
6. A baby bird fluttering on the ground is rarely “abandoned;” mama bird is almost certainly nearby, watching an essential part of the fledgling’s education.
The innovative “Nature as Your Neighbor” program has been so well received that it has been presented at several national conferences. In addition, Aurora’s staff has been asked to train other open space managers in the metro area, a positive step toward encouraging more Coloradans to live respectfully with wildlife.
The Plains Conservation Center will offer a “Nature as Your Neighbor” class on June 14 at 7 p.m. Call 303-693-3621 or visit for more information.
Susan Thornton (smthornton@aol.com) served 16 years on the Littleton City Council, including eight years as mayor.
