In This Issue:

• Bears in the Park - A message from General Manager, Trudy Peterson
• Roxborough Residents - Please Bear Proof Your Homes!
• Our Growing Problem with Bears in the Park
• Rules and Regulations - Fireworks Prohibited
• Fourth of July Parade
• Entry Building Update
• Waterton Canyon to Close Temporarily
• Fire Mitigation - Are you Ready for Fire Season by Keith Worley
• Announcements
  

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	Volume 5 Issue 12 - June 30, 2010
	BEARS IN ROXBOROUGH PARK Trudy Peterson, General Manager As many of you are aware we have had a very unusual period of time with bears this year. They are becoming much more willing to approach homes and trespass into the homes in search of easy food. The Department of Wildlife believes there is something different about the food sources available to them in the wild this year that is making them bolder about encroaching into yards and homes. To date two young bears have been collected in Roxborough Park and euthanized. Once a bear has entered into a home the behavior becomes imprinted in their brains and they will come back to the food source when they need to. Another bear was caught and tagged in Roxborough Village. They were able to relocate that bear in the hope it will adjust to the wild in a more remote region. That bear had not yet broken into any homes. The Department of Wildlife tells us that you must remove all food sources until November to discourage additional encroachment by the bears into yards and homes. As the bears become more comfortable foraging for food on your lot or in your home the danger to humans escalates. Remember, you are in their territory. As a resident in a wildlife interface area you must act responsibly to ensure the safety of your property, your safety and the safety of your neighbors, and ultimately the safety of the bear population. Below is information from the Department of Wildlife as well as a reprint of the information that was included in the last edition of Echoes. Please follow these simple guidelines. No one will likely give you a ticket or a fine however it is the responsible thing to do.
	**BEAR ALERT** ROXBOROUGH RESIDENTS PLEASE BEAR-PROOF YOUR HOMES! LIVING WITH NEIGHBORHOOD BEARS The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) has euthanized two bears caught breaking into homes in the Roxborough Park neighborhood. The DOW received several reports of bears getting into bird feeders, ponds, trash, and attempting to enter homes. Because the behavior of both of these bears was increasingly brazen, they were put down in order to protect public safety. District Wildlife Manager Matt Martinez, the local wildlife officer for the Roxborough neighborhoods, has found many homes with bird feeders and garbage cans stored outside. These attractants draw bears in to the neighborhoods, where they continue to find food and become increasingly dependent on humans—an unnatural and unhealthy situation for bears AND people. In the Roxborough Village neighborhood, a bear was recently trapped and relocated, as well. Again, homes and garages with accessible garbage were present. Both the DOW and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office ask Roxborough residents to take all the necessary steps to bear-proof their homes and help ensure the safety of the public, as well as the bears. Be a good neighbor and assist your elderly neighbors to this end, as well as encourage others to clean up attractants around their home. Please bring in all birdfeeders until November, Keep Garages, doors and windows closed and locked, and remember if you need to store your trash, keep it in a locked garage or shed. DOW provides a wealth of materials that citizens can access on how to bear-proof your home. Please check out and download this helpful information online at www.wildlife.state.co.us/bears. If you do not have internet access, or would like to talk with someone about living in bear country, please call the DOW at 303-291-7227. Help make Roxborough the wildlife-friendly community that others look up to!
	OUR GROWING PROBLEM WITH BEARS IN THE PARK We are currently experiencing a larger number of bears in the park. There is an extensive amount of information from the Colorado Division of Wildlife on dealing with bears in neighborhoods that coexist with wildlife. Their website is: http://wildlife.state.co.us/. If you are experiencing an overly aggressive bear you should contact the Division of Wildlife at 303-291-7227. From their website: Living with Bears in Colorado……Be Bear Aware: Do your part to keep bears wild. "Welcome to the Colorado Division of Wildlife’s Living with Bears online resource center. You’ll find lots of information on living, vacationing, and spending time outdoors in bear country. Plus, practical guidelines that will help you do your part to prevent human-bear conflicts, and keep bears wild. Today, bears are sharing space with a growing human population. Curious, intelligent, and very resourceful, black bears will explore all possible food sources. If they find food near homes, campgrounds, vehicles, or communities, they’ll come back for more. Bears will work hard to get the calories they need, and can easily damage property, vehicles, and homes. Bears that become aggressive in their pursuit of an easy meal must often be destroyed. Every time we’re forced to destroy a bear, it’s not just the bear that loses. We all lose a little piece of the wildness that makes Colorado so special. So please, get the information you need, and share it with your friends, neighbors, and community. If you need more, we’re here to help!"   Living with Bears: http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/LivingWithWildlife/Mammals/LivingWithBears.htm Bear-proofing Your Home - Download the PDF: http://wildlife.state.co.us/NR/rdonlyres/AF659799-56EA-4D03-B2D5-2F7BB0853AB7/0/bearfactsheetbearproofinghomeFINAL.pdf Deterrents Can Teach Bears to Stay Away flyer (PDF).Tips on how to deter bears from thinking that your home is an attractive place to visit and an easy source of food: http://wildlife.state.co.us/NR/rdonlyres/C0D7FCA1-42AB-47CB-A0AE-BA3384545FEA/0/BearDeterrents.pdf Make your own bear "unwelcome" mat; discourage bears from entering your home. (PDF): http://wildlife.state.co.us/NR/rdonlyres/9DAD5590-9971-449A-8B58-1CC0FF4410DB/0/UnwelcomeMats.pdf Keep Bears Wild Pledge and Home Checklist (You will need to copy—or print two copies—so you will have one to mail in after you have reviewed and completed Attracting Birds, Not Bears the form. The directions on the form refer to a carbonless version used in the field.)(PDF): http://wildlife.state.co.us/NR/rdonlyres/8AE5F9E4-CE17-4B66-8333-9BE40970158C/0/bearpledgesheetPRINTERFINAL.pdf Bearproofing Your Trash (PDF): http://wildlife.state.co.us/NR/rdonlyres/076C2031-0D25-4B01-829F-7F30C65500F0/0/BearproofingTrash.pdf Updated for 2010! Bear-resistant Trash Containers (Commercially available trash containers.) (PDF): http://wildlife.state.co.us/NR/rdonlyres/715E111A-7C8B-4E01-B5C0-04CB873749F7/0/BearContainerList2010.pdf Camping & Hiking in Bear Country (Web page): http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/LivingWithWildlife/Mammals/HikeCampBearCountry.htm Bear Encounters: http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/LivingWithWildlife/Mammals/HikeCampBearCountry.htm#Encounter Black Bear Profile: http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/Profiles/Mammals/BlackBear.htm Black Bear Challenge (An interactive game.): http://wildlife.state.co.us/Education/StudentActivities/KidsPage/BlackBearChallenge.htm Bears (The "Bears" issue of Colorado's Wildlife Company.): http://wildlife.state.co.us/Education/TeacherResources/ColoradoWildlifeCompany/CWCBearsF94U.htm Be Bear Aware in Colorado Bear Country—an activity booklet (PDF): http://wildlife.state.co.us/NR/rdonlyres/E0312691-E43B-4D98-BA0C-7FD172925EC0/0/BeBearAwareBooklet_DONOTSHARE.pdf Images of Bears (To search the database, type "bear" in the 'description' field.): http://wildlife.state.co.us/NewsMedia/ImageDB/ Black bear activities for kid's in the primary through middle school grades: http://wildlife.state.co.us/Education/StudentActivities/WildlifeDiscovery/ Don’t invite this guy to dinner! Here is a short list of what you can do to help protect both homeowners and bears. No Birdfeeders April to mid-November. Garage doors kept shut even while you’re home. Clean grill after each use or store inside. Place ammonia soaked rags on top of garbage cans. No fish ponds. If the bear is not threatening, watch it and try to figure out why it is attracted to your home. Fix the problem after the bear leaves. HAZE OR SCARE THE BEARS AWAY! You can use air-horns, bright lights, yelling, banging on pots and pans, etc. to keep the bears afraid of humans.
	FIREWORKS PROHIBITED Rules and Regulations 1.060 Firearms, Archery, Leghold Traps, Fireworks Prohibited – The discharge of firearms outside of residences, the use of archery equipment, the use of leghold traps and the discharge of fireworks is prohibited within Roxborough Park. Organized fireworks displays approved by the Board of Directors and the West Metro Fire Department may be permitted. Approximately 9300 people nation wide are seriously injured by fireworks every year. About 40% of all fireworks related injuries are due to illegal fireworks that have been banned by the consumer product safety commission. About 45% of injuries from fireworks are incurred by kids under 14 years of age. Every year about 400 Americans lose sight in one or both eyes due to fireworks. Fireworks contribute to more than 20,000 fires every year. Children between the ages of 5 and 9 have the highest rate of firework related injuries. Use of illegal fireworks in the unincorporated county areas is considered a class 3 misdemeanor and can result in a fine of up to $750 and/or jail time.
	FOURTH OF JULY ACTIVITIES Fourth of July Parade Sunday, July 4th at 10:00 am. will be the annual 4th of July Bike Parade, starting at Deirdre Meyers Park. Decorate your bikes, wagons, scooters, strollers, etc. and get ready to walk the parade route with us. The West Metro firemen will be joining us with a fire truck and another emergency vehicle to lead and follow the parade. They will stick around when we get back to the park to let the kids check out the fire trucks close up!
	ENTRY BUILDING UPDATE After reviewing the bids for the entry building the Foundation made the decision to reject all bids. The bids received were far outside the project budget. We have since consulted with the Board, staff, architect and several Foundation members to make some changes to the drawings that we think will be helpful to bring the project in at a much more reasonable cost. We will be sending out invitations to bid on the amended drawings early next week. As stated in previous editions of Echoes, the Board and staff are committed to moving this project forward this year. Please watch future Echoes editions for updates on the project.
	WATERTON CANYON TO CLOSE TEMPORARILY As a result of dredging necessary in the Strontia Springs reservoir due to lingering effects of the Hayman fire, the Waterton Recreation area will be closed to all use from August 2, 2010 until December 3, 2010, and then again from February 28 through December 31, 2011, a total of over 14 months. The Roxborough Park Foundation Board of Directors will be discussing this upcoming situation, due to the likelihood that the closure will cause additional pressures on Roxborough Park roads , Trail 19, and the Roxborough South entrance into Roxborough State Parks. The Board will be researching solutions to control access through our roads, and will reach out to other stakeholders. Our goal is to prevent problems before they arise!!
	Fire Mitigation Are You Ready for Fire Season? Keith Worley, Forester Now is the time to begin preparing your home for the wildfire season. Wildfires can often strike quickly with little or no warning. Are you and your family ready? The following is a handy list (from the CSU Publication “Creating Wildfire-Defensible Zones”, No. 6.302) of things you should do now- BEFORE a wildfire strikes: Defensible Space and Firewise Annual Checklist Trees and shrubs are properly thinned and pruned within the defensible space. Slash from thinning is disposed of. Roof and gutters are clear of debris. Branches overhanging the roof and chimney are removed. Chimney screens are in place and in good condition. Firewood piles are stacked well away from all structure (30’ recommended). Grass and weeds are mowed to a low height ( a maximum of 6” high). An outdoor water supply is available, complete with hose and nozzle that can reach all parts of the house. Fire extinguishers are checked and in working condition. The driveway is wide enough. The clearance of trees and branches is adequate for fire and emergency equipment. (Check with your local fire department.) Road signs and your name and house number are posted and easily visible. There is an easily accessible too storage area with rakes, hoes, axes and shovels for use in case of fire. You have practiced family fire drills and your fire evacuation plan. Your escape routes, meeting points and other details are known and understood by all family members. Attic, roof, eaves and foundation vents are screened and in good condition. Stilt foundations and decks are enclosed, screened or walled up. Trash and debris accumulations are removed from the defensible space. A checklist for fire safety needs inside the home also have been completed. This is available from your local fire department. Additional Firewise information is available at either the Colorado State Forest Service (www.csfs.colostate.edu) or CSU Extension (www.ext.colostate.edu ) web sites. I recommend that everyone who lives in a wildfire prone area like ours view the “Melody Lane Fire” on www.uTube.com. This incredible video, in which five homes were lost, shows how quickly vegetation around a home can ignite a structure. Remember, it is up to you to create your defensible space. This zone around your home may give limited fire fighting resources a safer and better chance of protecting your home. No home is worth a life. So, prepare now.
	ANNOUNCEMENTS NEW DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE MEMBER - Mike Jacoby, Willow Broom Trail, has been appointed to serve on the Design Review Committee. Welcome Mike! CHATFIELD REALLOCATION For the last several years, Denver Water has been researching alternatives for the Chatfield Basin, due to increasing water demands, and the fact that a significant amount of water passes through the reservoir system without being captured in times of high runoff and maximized capacity. Their current recommended alternative is one that will raise the water level of Chatfield reservoir by 12 feet, which will cover an approximate additional 500 acres of land, and which will require replacement of all the existing water front facilities and amenities. A final decision on the alternative selected will be made by the end of 2011. If you are interested in learning more, go to their website ( www.chatfieldstudy.com) , where you can find a discussion of the alternatives as well as maps of the alternatives reflecting the revised footprint of the reservoir. The Roxborough Park Foundation has taken no official position on the alternatives, and besides some potential negative impacts on wildlife and vegetation, there would be positive impacts such as substantial increase in water surface for recreational activities. Sheriff Weaver Offers New Self-Defense Program for Citizens Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) Systems is an international organization of certified instructors who work to combat the issues of violence against women. This class is 12 hours long. The class is designed for women age 14 and older, of any physical ability. In this class, women begin by learning simple risk awareness and avoidance strategies. They then learn proper blocking, striking and kicking techniques. The class continues with women learning techniques for escaping wrist grabs, bear hugs, choke holds and being pinned on the ground or against a wall. The class concludes with a simulation exercise where participants are given an opportunity to use the techniques learned in a safe training environment. The class, which will be broken down into four different nights, is scheduled for July 20, 22, 27 and 29. The classes will run from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm each night. The class will be held at the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, 4000 Justice Way, Castle Rock, CO., 80109. Tuition for the class is $35.00. Registration information and forms can be obtained by going to the Sheriff’s Office website, www.dcsheriff.net. Class size is limited to 20 students. If you have questions please contact Heather M. Hocrath, Training Division, 303-660-7525 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .
	CONTACT US OUR BOARD Herb Livingston - President This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Jerry Thomas - Vice President This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it K C Van Niman - Secretary This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Pam Page - Treasurer This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it David Irwin - Member-At-Large This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   OUR STAFF Trudy Peterson - General Manager This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Mark Gordier - Operations Manager This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Taralee Distel - Bookeeping This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Sandra Patterson - Administrative Services This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Roxborough Park Foundation 6237 Roxborough Drive Office Hours 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday – Friday Closed Friday 12 Noon – 1:00 pm Phone Ph: 303-979-7860 Fax: 303-979-0624 We’re On the Web www.roxborough-park.com
	© Roxborough Park Foundation 2010. The Roxborough Park Foundation distributes this on-line newsletter regularly for its members. You are receiving this issue as a registered subscriber of this service. If you have received this mailing in error, or do not wish to receive any further newsletters please manage your subscription by writing to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .