1-Color
April 10, 2014 Douglas County, Colorado | Volume 27, Issue 21 A publication of
highlandsranchherald.net
Coyote sightings up in spring Residents urged to avoid interaction, refrain from feeding the wild canids By Hannah Garcia hgarcia@coloradocommunitymedia.com With warmer weather on the way and more people spending their days outside, wildlife interactions are bound to increase. Although coyotes may carry a reputation — ranging from mystic admiration to a hostile aversion — Bill Dailey, natural resources manager with the Highlands Ranch Metro District, said the best way to deal with coyotes is to avoid interacting with them. Highlands Ranch has 2,500 acres of open space with 60 miles of trails dissect-
ing it. It is inevitable that some residents will see coyotes, Dailey said. “We have built Highlands Ranch where their home was,” Dailey said. “Just because we built houses doesn’t mean they’re going anywhere.” Although coyotes are active year-round, people may see more of them in spring. They begin breeding in February, finding spaces for dens in April and pups start arriving in May, according to Dailey. Coyotes may also engage in an activity called “escorting,” which may entail watching or following humans that come near dens, according to Lacerte. It’s a way the creatures keep their pups safe but “sometimes it may scare people,” she said. Resident Ronald Nigh said he saw a few coyotes in an open space behind Northridge Elementary School while walking his Coyotes continues on Page 11
This coyote was spotted by Ronald Nigh behind Northridge Elementary School on April 1. Courtesy photo
Firefighting fleet cleared for takeoff Plan would set aside $21 million to purchase or contract planes, helicopters By Vic Vela
vvela@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Julianna Brandberg, 9, catches some air coming down the hill while sledding with her family at Highlands Heritage Regional Park on April 3.
Quick! Before it melts! Longer days mean more time to play! With a lateseason snowstorm hitting Highlands Ranch on April 3, kids and adults alike hit the hills at Highlands Heritage Regional Park for some afternoon sledding and maybe a little bit of snow-unicorn-building.
PHOTOS BY HANNAH GARCIA
Chiara Gaibor, 6, puts the finishing touches on a snow unicorn she built with her brother Lucca.
One way or another, the state will soon free up money to get an unfunded aerial firefighting fleet off the ground. The governor’s office and legislative leaders are on board with a spending plan that would set aside $21 million to purchase or contract planes and helicopters that are equipped to fight fires. The money was approved through an amendment to the annual state budget that was debated in the Senate on April 3. Gov. John Hickenlooper’s office and lawmakers will have to get creative to find where in the budget the fleet funding will be secured. But all sides agree that this will happen this year — much to excitement of the legislator who has been instrumental in driving the creation of the Colorado Firefighting Air Corps. “Quite frankly, this is the most important legislation of my life,” said Sen. Steve King, R-Grand Junction. The funding behind King’s effort comes on the heels of a much-anticipated state fire report that was released last week. The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control found that the state lacks resources in key firefighting areas, including a lack of aerial firefighting capabilities. “Colorado does not have the ability to deliver appropriate aviation resources in a timely fashion to support local suppression response to small fires while they are still small,” states the report, which was authored by CDFPC Director Paul Cooke. Fleet continues on Page 11
Chase Thompson, 8, takes her brother Reid, 5, for a slide. Printed on recycled newsprint. Please recycle this copy.