Pets & Animals
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Boulder Rangers have a quiet week, goats to invade
Aug 9th
The goats are coming; the goats are coming!
Approximately 300 goats will move onto the Stengel l property (Tallgrass West area) sometime this weekend. The goats are part of a long term project established in 2011 looking at ways to reduce chicory, a blue flowered exotic perennial that has invaded our tallgrass communities. Staff is looking at how goats, cattle and prescribed fire when appropriate effect chicory densities and its’ spread. Thanks to Lynn, Ann Lezberg and others for making this happen.The contractor will be on site 24/7 as permitted by the City. Educational signs have been posted at all access points.
Rangers:
Rangers responded to:
• A report of an injured hiker on the Royal Arch trail. The hiker fell and injured her right ankle.Rangers worked with RMR and AMR on this call.
• A report of a lost hiker in the area of the Royal Arch.
Rangers were able to talk the person back down to the trails.
• A report of a fire in the five mile marker of Left Hand Canyon.
Rangers located three juveniles having a campfire and issued summonses for this offense.
Ranger Job Opening
The open OSMP Ranger Naturalist positions have been posted and we will be accepting applicants through 8/20. If you have any qualified seasonal staff, friends or former co-workers interested please direct them here:
https://bouldercolorado.gov/jobs-and-volunteer
Trail
On Aug 1st, members of the Mountain Bike Patrol joined OSMP staff to construct a temporary trail connection between Community Ditch and Coal Seam Trail. This temporary trail will allow visitors to make a loop on those trails, during construction of the Hwy 93 underpass. Once the underpass is complete, this trail will be closed and restored.
Xcel Energy will be starting the line / pole replacement project in the next couple days. Starting from the South, Plainview area, they will work North using Flatirons Vista access and on to Eldorado substation, their contractor will be using Greenbelt Plateau for employee parking with OSMP placards.
Community Outreach
OSMP started leading public Natural Selections programs into the Weiser property last weekend. Dave Sutherland took a large group to see the sandstone cliffs, turtle backs, rare plants and bald eagles that inhabit this special and fragile place. OSMP will continue to offer public guided hikes through August, September and October while the property is open for visitation. The area can only be visited with an OSMP guide, and the hikes are limited to 15 by reservation. At the end of October, a bald eagle nesting closure goes into effect until next August and the location will be closed once more.
Channel 8 covers the OSMP Art Show – https://vimeo.com/71605401
The art show is located in the Boulder Public Library Canyon Gallery (1001 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder). The show is open to the public and will run from July 20 – August 28 during normal library hours. Drop in and see how Open Space inspires local artists!
City Rangers have a relatively quiet week, and other OSMP news
Aug 1st
• South Boulder Peak on a report of a lost hiker.
Rangers worked with RMR to find the hiker and get her back down safely.
• A report of a private citizen illegally grazing their horses on the Abbott property.
The private citizen set up water tanks and hay bales on the Abbott property.
A summons was issued with a mandatory court appearance.
• A report of an injured climber on the Dome. The climber fell approximately 8-10 ft,
potentially breaking their ankle. Rangers worked with RMR on this call.
• A party in Settler’s Park that had a warrant for their arrest.
Rangers worked with Boulder PD on this arrest.
• A report of two criminal trespasses. One happened in front of the Rolling Rock property,
while the other took place within the West South Boulder Creek Trailhead.
The suspect has not been found at this time.
• A report of an injured hiker on the Lower Bear Canyon trail. The hiker sprained their left ankle. Rangers worked with AMR on this call.
Cottonwood Pond Restoration
The restoration work at Cottonwood Pond and along Goose Creek is progressing. This project is a partnership between OSMP and Public Works and is funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Cottonwood Pond, a former gravel pit, will be filled and restored to native wetland and riparian habitat. When completed, Goose Creek will meander through wetland and riparian habitat before reaching Boulder Creek. Of all wetland types, the Front Range has experienced the biggest loss of acreage in the riverine wetland type; this project will also increase riverine wetland habitat. The restoration project will also eliminate the Eurasian water milfoil and curly leaf pondweed, both aggressive non-native aquatic weeds, which currently infest the pond.
Community Outreach
OSMP Opening Art Show Evening a Success – Several hundred people, including many of the artists with work on display, turned out for the opening reception for the City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks art show, Art Inspired by the Land. The show celebrates art created by the community and inspired by OSMP lands. Enjoy this selection of photos from the event, many featuring the artists posing with their work.
The art show is located in the Boulder Public Library Canyon Gallery (1001 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder).
The show is open to the public and will run from July 20 – August 28 during normal library hours. Drop in and see how Open Space inspires local artists!
Wittemyer Trail Construction Volunteer Project, Sat. August 10th, 8 AM
Give a little of your summer at the second volunteer project to help build the new summit trail leading up the west side of Mt. Sanitas! Volunteers will clear the trail corridor, haul slash and construct trail. The Wittemyer West Sanitas Trail is being constructed to provide for a new approach to the summit of Mt. Sanitas from the west side. This project is physically arduous with a steep hike to the project site.
Sign up here: https://www.volgistics.com/ex/portal.dll/ap?AP=2073189375
Vegetable Harvesting at Cure Organic Farm, Thurs. August 15th, 8:45 amJoin OSMP to assist Anne Cure and her interns in harvesting tomatoes and other veggies. The City of Boulder Agricultural Specialist will discuss the history of agriculture in the area and organic vegetable production on OSMP. Learn what it takes to grow vegetables in this region (soil type, water, etc). Anne will share her particular farming methods that help the farm ecosystem and the community.
Sign up here: https://www.volgistics.com/ex/portal.dll/ap?AP=1452253309
Ask Coyote Bob!
Have you visited the OSMP kids page? Kids can complete puzzles and ask Coyote Bob questions.
https://bouldercolorado.gov/osmp/kids-pages
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Boulder police recover stolen bear during late-night forest rescue–those wacky cops!
Jun 21st
Three male suspects, visiting from out of state, kidnapped the bear on Tuesday, June 18, 2013 just before 7 p.m. Although the Pearl Street Mall is generally crowded with people, no one was able to identify the culprits or their getaway car.
Police didn’t have much to work with in the way of suspect information until last evening, when they found a Craig’s List personal ad showing a photo of a man hugging the bear outside the Montbell store. The ad asked the women who “may or may not have helped” steal the bear to contact the poster. Police contacted the suspect through the ad, and he confessed to stealing the bear with his friends.
The suspect told police that he and his accomplices (all are from out of state) took the bear camping in the Roosevelt National Forest, because they thought it would be “fun.” When they left their campsite to return home, they gifted the bear to another group of out-of-state campers they’d met over the past few days.
The suspect from the Craig’s List ad gave police directions to the campsite, and officers drove to the area last night. When they arrived they immediately located the bear — which was being held against his will– in a nearby Jeep. Police interviewed the campers, and they were cooperative during the investigation.
Officers recovered the bear and gave him a special escort back to the Boulder Police Department, where he spent the night. (See attached photo).
The bear does not appear to be injured, but he was missing his fishing vest when police found him. The bear has not shared any information about what happened to him during the incident, so details are not available.
It will be up to the owners of the Montbell store to decide whether to pursue charges.
The bear will be returned this afternoon.
— CITY–