Whether they are flying through the sky, jumping from flower to flower or skimming through the grass, Highlands Ranch is just as much a home to wildlife as it is to the human residents.  

“Not every community enjoys the advantage of having open space and wildlife just outside your back door,” said Sandy Holcomb, an urban park ranger coordinator with the Highland Ranch Metro District. “We’re trying to make sure everyone’s good stewards of that.”

Both humans and wildlife like to take advantage of the outdoors throughout Highlands Ranch and enjoy the scenic views. Therefore, Holcomb encourages people to stay on the trails because it poses a danger to wildlife when people go off trail.

“When we create bare ground and social trails, that actually damages the plant-life balance,” Holcomb said. 

She added that while enjoying the nature that comes with the summertime, sometimes people forget that they still need to be alert and know what’s around them. 

Holcomb often speaks to preschool and elementary school students about how well the wildlife in Highlands Ranch can camouflage themselves. 

“Sometimes you don’t see wildlife because they blend in there so well,” said Holcomb. “They’re watching you – maybe more than we’re watching them.”

Knowing your neighbors

Highlands Ranch is home to deer, skunks, raccoons, coyotes, foxes, snakes and more, so it’s important to “take time to notice things and make sure you’re not in a rush,” Holcomb said. 

By this time of year, coyotes have already had their cubs, said Holcomb, so consequently, the adults might be more territorial and the juveniles might be more curious as they are learning how to hunt. 

Additionally, Colorado Parks and Wildlife states that coyotes have adapted to human environments and have evolved to thrive in urban settings. Therefore, the best defense for a coyote encounter is to wave your arms and make a lot of noise, rather than run away. 

Big movements and loud noises are also recommended if encountering a bear. However, Holcomb said that they have not seen too many bears in the community this year. 

Bears often make their way down to more urban areas because of the plant life producing a good food source. 

Holcomb said there were some bears in backyards last summer but Colorado Parks and Wildlife were able to get them back up into the foothills. Some tips to avoid bears wandering into your yard include securing trash containers, cleaning outdoor grills regularly and storing food properly, including pet food. 

Two park rangers use olive oil to remove a snake from a trap.
Park rangers with the Highlands Ranch Metro District work to get a snake out of a trap. Credit: Sandy Holcomb

One of the most common calls for park rangers is a snake sighting or encounter. Residents often see garter, bull and rattlesnakes on trails and near their homes – and there have already been numerous calls this year regarding snakes. 

The bull snake and rattlesnake both make a rattling sound, however, the bull snake is just imitating the rattlesnake to appear more dangerous than it is. The rattlesnake is likely the most venomous snake in Highlands Ranch. 

“It can be a little startling when you are going up a trail and you hear rattles, so it’s good to be aware,” Holcomb said. 

There are some defining differences between the two. The bull snake has an oval-shaped head and round pupils, whereas the rattlesnake has a triangular head, vertical or elliptical pupils and is darker in color. 

Snakes typically come out and are most active when the temperature is between 50 and 80 degrees. Snakes are also good at camouflage, which is why Holcomb encourages people to watch where they are walking and be careful of picking up large rocks. 

To help protect yourself from snakes, Holcomb suggests carrying a walking stick on trails to help create distance, and stomping your feet helps snakes understand there’s a predator nearby. Also, keep dogs on a leash. For homes, seal entrances to crawl spaces and basements. 

If you or your pet gets bitten, seek medical attention immediately. 

When to call a park ranger

Park rangers with the Metro District are responsible for educating residents about the community’s wildlife, monitoring interactions among wildlife and reporting encounters to the appropriate agencies like Colorado Parks and Wildlife. 

Residents can also call a park ranger if they need help identifying a critter in their backyard or need a yard audit. 

“If people are worried about wildlife coming into their backyard, we can go look in the area,” said Holcomb. “Maybe you have some food sources that you don’t know that you have or maybe some coverings that hide some wildlife that you would rather not have.”

Park rangers can also give advice on when there should be human intervention with animals, like when handling birds. They often give residents tips such as not feeding wildlife or attempting to get close to wild animals to take a photo. 

These tips can help improve the harmony between wildlife and human habitation. Holcomb said park rangers would rather help residents “keep wildlife wild.” 

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