Posts tagged found
Plague identified in City of Boulder
Jun 3rd
Go ahead, try to pet me!!(I’ll rip yer face off)
Boulder, CO – A domestic cat living in the 2500 block of 6th Street has tested positive for plague. Additionally, a dead squirrel found at the intersection of 8th and Maxwell Avenue has tested positive for plague. As a result, the Mapleton Hill neighborhood has been posted with signs listing precautionary measures to avoid plague.
This is the first time plague activity has been confirmed in Boulder County this season, and public health officials want to remind residents about how to protect themselves against plague.
“We want people to understand what steps they should take to protect themselves, their family members, and their pets,” said Boulder County Public Health (BCPH) Environmental Health Division Manager Joe Malinowski. “Because plague is most commonly transmitted by fleas, taking steps to avoid flea exposure will be most helpful in preventing this disease.”
Public health officials recommend the following precautions to reduce the likelihood of being exposed to plague:
· AVOID FLEAS! Protect pets with flea powder, and keep pets on a leash and out of wild rodent habitats.
· STAY OUT of areas that wild rodents inhabit. If you enter areas with wild rodents, wear insect repellent and tuck your pants cuffs into your socks to prevent flea bites.
· AVOID all contact with wild rodents, including squirrels; do not feed or handle them.
· NEVER TOUCH sick or dead animals with your bare hands. Use a long-handled shovel to place dead animals in a garbage bag, and then place the bag in an outdoor garbage can.
· PREVENT rodent infestations around your house. Clear plants and materials away from outside walls, reduce access to food items, and set traps.
· TREAT known rodent sites around your home with flea powder or a suitable insecticide.
Plague occurs naturally in Colorado and is an infectious disease spread by fleas to wild rodents and other small mammals, such as squirrels, rats, prairie dogs, and rabbits. Bubonic plague is the most common form of plague and occurs after a bite from an infected flea. Plague can spread to humans when infected fleas from squirrels, prairie dogs, and other wild rodents bite a human.
Household pets, such as dogs and especially cats, can either get plague or carry infected fleas home to their owners. In rare instances, plague can be transmitted to people from cats sick with plague. “Keeping cats indoors is the best way to protect them from getting plague,” said Malinowski. “In addition, pet owners should discuss with their veterinarians the best way to protect pets from fleas.”
Symptoms of plague infection include high fever, extreme fatigue, and painful swollen lymph nodes (called bubos). If you observe these symptoms in a person or pet, it is important to contact your health care provider or veterinarian immediately. Plague can be treated with antibiotics, but this treatment is most successful when the disease can be diagnosed quickly.
For more information about plague, please visit the BCPH web site at www.BoulderCountyHealth.org, or call the Health Alert Hotline at 303-441-1460.
OSMP offers a volunteer project in celebration of National Trails Day!
May 25th
The City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) department is recruiting volunteers for a trail building project on National Trails Day, Saturday June 4, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
This effort will assist in re-routing a section of Green Bear Trail. Volunteers will clear the trail corridor, haul slash and generally work toward establishing new tread. The re-route will move a portion of the trail out of the Bear Canyon riparian area. This, combined with previous trail projects, will help improve the entire length of the riparian area in Bear Canyon. Riparian areas provide essential habitat for a long list of plant and animal species and are some of the most biologically rich areas on the OSMP system.
A portion of the re-route will move the trail out of Preble’s Meadow Jumping Mouse habitat. This federally listed species requires riparian shrubland habitat, like those found in Bear Canyon, for feeding, breeding, and hibernation. The new trail alignment will also be more sustainable, resulting in a reduction of trail erosion that can both degrade water quality in the creek and impact native vegetation.
Volunteers should dress in layers and bring appropriate clothing for rain and full-sun exposure. Work gloves, sturdy boots or shoes, long pants, a long sleeved T-shirt, a water bottle, snacks, sunscreen and a hat are also necessary to participate. Tools and lunch will be provided. In addition, each volunteer will receive a custom-made project tee-shirt.
To pre-register for this event please visit www.osmp.org or call 303-413-7632. Due to the type of work and the location, registration is limited to 50 participants. These will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. Designated parking will be at New Vista High School parking lot at 700 20th St. Volunteers will be shuttled to the project site.
Boulder SM Trada girl has bike stolen during SUB week
May 23rd
Below, Elaine Ellis tries to find her bike on Twitter and SM. In yet another stolen bike story. Last week our columnist Seth Brigham had his bike stolen, but he scoured the neighborhood and found it. We posted his blog here too. But In this blog post Ellis does not say from where or when exactly the bike was stolen which will make it that much harder to find. Boulder Police say they retrieve less than 20% of stolen bikes.
Posted by Elaine Ellis on May 23, 2011
My bike was stolen Saturday. And this is the picture of the person who stole it. Have you seen this bike thief?
This man felt entitled to my $500+ Trek Allant despite not paying for it. He felt so entitled to something he didn’t own that he felt he could rip the lock out of brick. He rifled through the unlocked bikes next to my bike and took mine. But Karma is a bitch and this story can have a happy ending. Because peopleacross from my courtyard took pictures of the person stealing my bike.
If you hate people who feel entitled to steal things that they don’t own, then you can help me get out the word about this bike thief. Not that I’m bitter. Bike thieves are one of the worst things about living in Boulder. And this is our chance to make sure we ruin his joy ride of thievery. And could you please keep an eye out for a man riding around on my olive green Trek Allant? It’s a popular model but I’d love to get it back.
Oh, and bike thief?
“You don’t have to confess you did it. We are looking for you. We gonna find you. I’m letting you know now so you can run and tell that homeboy.”
