This month, we hope you will join us in sharing the importance of caring for the extraordinary 960+ wildlife species that call Colorado home. As springtime beckons us into the outdoors, it’s important to be aware that human activity can put extra stress on wildlife as they try to survive on depleted food supplies. Many animals are nesting, having their young or just coming out of hibernation.
Spring can also be a great time for wildlife viewing. This adventure can be fun and thrilling, but we want everyone to stay safe, so we have included articles to share highlighting important viewing tips to ensure a safe, quality experience. Let’s all encourage visitors and residents to follow “Best Practices” while viewing wildlife to protect the health of our amazing animals.
Yours in stewardship,
Tim Wolfe, Director, Colorado Tourism Office
Dana Watts, Executive Director, Leave No Trace
Help Us Share the Care for Colorado Monthly Messaging
Please feel free to share these assets on your own channels — just be sure to credit the partner organization and link back to their site.
Resources from Colorado Tourism Office & Leave No Trace:
- Colorado Tourism Office: 7 Care for Colorado Leave No Trace Principles
- Colorado Tourism Office: Care for Colorado: Keep Wildlife Wild Video & Tips
- Colorado Tourism Office: Care for Colorado Wildlife Quiz
- Colorado Tourism Office: Keep Wildlife Wild Social Still
- Colorado Tourism Office: Wildlife Viewing
- Leave No Trace: Respect Wildlife
- Leave No Trace: 3 Tips To Respect Wildlife Video
- Leave No Trace: 4 Tips for Bountiful Birding
- Leave No Trace: New Wildlife Research in National Parks
Resources from Care for Colorado Coalition Partners:
- CPW: Spring Wildlife Advice
- CPW: Ethical Wildlife Viewing Tips
- CPW: Living With Wildlife
- NPS: Watching Wildlife
- NPS: Keep Wildlife Wild facebook
- USDA Forest Service: Don’t Feed Wildlife
#CareForColorado social media posts
Share any of the Backcountry Safety Awareness social-media posts below to encourage visitors to Care for Colorado on all their adventures. Use one (or all) of these ready-made social posts, or create your own. Don’t forget to tag @VisitColorado and @LeaveNoTraceOrg in all your posts.
- While some wildlife may not seem bothered by our presence, they can be unpredictable and dangerous if you get too close. Instead, give wildlife space by using the observation areas, platforms and trails provided in many recreation areas, and bringing binoculars, spotting scopes and telephoto lenses to watch wildlife. #CareforColorado #LeaveNoTrace
- Never feed wildlife and be sure all food and trash is properly stored when left unattended. Getting access to food or trash is unhealthy for wildlife and can cause them to become aggressive or even dangerous. #CareforColorado #LeaveNoTrace
- Loud noises can disturb wildlife causing them to change their behaviors and expend energy they need to survive. Protect wildlife by keeping loud noises to a minimum. That way you may even see more wildlife too! . #CareforColorado #LeaveNoTrace
- Fish, birds and reptiles, as well as mammals, are affected by people recreating in their habitats. We are responsible for living peacefully with wildlife. Remember, we are visitors in their homes. #CareforColorado #LeaveNoTrace
Care for Colorado Coalition 'Keep Wildlife Wild' Success Stories
- Spanish Peaks Country: Check out the page that Spanish Peaks Country designed on their website around the Care for Colorado Leave No Trace Principle KEEP WILDLIFE WILD.
- Visit Fort Collins: Visit Fort Collins featured a Care for Colorado Leave No Trace page in their Visitor Guide, on Page 26, that featured the KEEP WILDLIFE WILD principle.
Care for Colorado Coalition News
- Leave No Trace Workshop: Join us on March 10th at 10:00AM for a workshop on Effective Communication of Leave No Trace. Community Engagement Manager, Faith Overall will lead an engaging workshop covering the what, why and how of Leave No Trace and strategies for communicating Leave No Trace skills and ethics in ways proven to change visitor behavior. Register for this workshop here.
- Colorado Department of Transportation's new video series: This winter, CDOT launched a new video series called “Winter Driving in the Wild.” It features the do’s and don’ts of being Winter Wise on Colorado roadways in documentary-style mini-movies. CDOT hopes the series serves as a humorous and educational reminder of how to stay safe throughout winter. Share these videos through your channels!
- Tour Colorado Member, Hampton Inn Durango, was awarded Best of the Best 2021 by the American Bus Association.
Care for Colorado Coalition
To learn more about the Care for Colorado Program please check out our content hub on colorado.com. If you have any questions about the Care for Colorado Coalition or would like to refer an organization, agency or business to be a Partner or Member, please email Barb Bowman.