Living with Wildlife

To the surprise of many, Colorado’s wild animals have adapted to live comfortably in an urban environment. It is not unusual to see raccoons, skunks, squirrels, fox, coyotes and other wildlife in residential areas. In most situations, people and wildlife can coexist. The key is to respect the wildness of wildlife.

Most dangerous and potentially harmful encounters occur because people fail to leave the animals alone. Wildlife should not be harassed, captured, domesticated or fed. An animal lives where it lives because it feels safe and comfortable. If you make the animal feel unsafe or uncomfortable, it will simply move.

Animal Services and Wildlife

Arapahoe County Animal Services does not remove or relocate wildlife from private property. For human and animal health and welfare reasons, the state restricts the relocation of most wildlife species. If you are experiencing conflict with wildlife on your property and want advice on how to deter animals from your property, please contact Colorado Parks and Wildlife at 303-291-7227 or check the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website for more information on how to safely do so.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife also regulate what wildlife may be live trapped and where it may be relocated. Animal Services will loan out traps to citizens of unincorporated Arapahoe County who wish to follow Parks and Wildlife’s regulations for removing small wildlife from private property.

Animal Guidelines

Many wild animals have adapted to live comfortably in an urban environment. It is not unusual to see raccoons, skunks, squirrels, fox, coyotes and other wildlife in residential areas. In most situations, people and wildlife can coexist. The key is to respect the wildness of wildlife. Most dangerous and potentially harmful encounters occur because people fail to leave animals alone. Intentional or inadvertent feeding is the major cause of most wildlife problems. An animal lives where it lives because it feels safe and comfortable. If you make the animal feel unsafe or uncomfortable, it will simply move.

Arapahoe County Animal Services does not remove or relocate wildlife from private property. For human and animal health and welfare reasons, the state restricts the relocation of most wildlife species. Animal Services does not trap wildlife or respond to calls simply because a wild animal has been seen in the area.

Guidelines to keep in mind when dealing with wildlife:

• Do not feed wildlife.
• Discourage others from feeding wildlife.
• Do not touch young wild animals. Don't assume that just because you don't see the parents, the young have been abandoned. An animal that appears orphaned will often have its mother nearby.
• Teach children not to feed, play with or pet wild animals.
• Secure trash containers to prevent wildlife access.
• Eliminate other food sources such as bird feeders, pet dishes or barbecue grills.

For more information on any wildlife, check out the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website.