Posts tagged precautions
Plague identified in City of Boulder
Jun 3rd
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.
Police see increase in bicycle thefts from garages
Feb 1st
Over the past three months, 21 bicycles have been stolen from garages left open by homeowners. The thefts have occurred between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. nearly every day of the week, except Tuesdays. Both high-end bicycles and lower-end bicycles have been taken. The area of the city most affected has the following boundaries: Arapahoe Avenue, South Boulder Road, 30th Street and 55th Street.
There are no suspect descriptions at this time.
The Boulder Police Department would like to remind residents to lock their doors to their homes and vehicles, keep garage doors closed and latched, and store valuable belongings out of plain sight.
Anyone with information about these crimes is asked to contact Sgt. Rob Bustrum at 303- 441-3484. Those who have information but wish to remain anonymous may contact the Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or 1-800-444-3776. Tips can also be submitted via the Crime Stoppers website at www.crimeshurt.com. Those submitting tips through Crime Stoppers that lead to the arrest and filing of charges on a suspect(s) may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000 from Crime Stoppers.
Coyote attacks in west and north Boulder aimed at pets, precautions listed
Jan 12th
Recent encounters between coyotes and residents in north Boulder have prompted the city to remind people to use caution whenever a coyote or other wildlife is present, especially when pets are around.
Recent events include: an attack on a dog by a coyote south of Wonderland Lake; a coyote lunging at a dog at the Foothills Community Dog Park; and, an encounter with two coyotes near 4th Street and Lee Hill Drive that forced action by pet guardians.
Incidences like these show that coyotes are predators that should be treated with caution. Most coyotes prey on rabbits, mice, birds and other small animals, but, in urban areas, their prey can include small pets, such as cats and dogs. While attacks on humans are rare, people should take precautions to protect themselves and their pets.
“Coyotes are smart, adaptable predators who quickly learn to take advantage of any newly discovered food source,” said Valerie Matheson, urban wildlife coordinator for the City of Boulder. “It’s important to realize that pets may be seen as prey to coyotes that may attempt to lure pets away from their owners in order to attack them.”
Here are some tips to help avoid problematic encounters with coyotes:
· Do not feed wildlife. Feeding coyotes teaches them to associate people with food.
· Do not approach or encourage interaction with wild animals.
· Keep pets on a leash when outdoors.
· Keep outdoor pets in kennels. Even pets in enclosed yards run the risk of predation, especially at night.
· Keep pet food inside in order to prevent attracting wild animals.
· Remind children to stay close to a group of people. If a child is approached by any wild animal, he or she should walk backwards slowly away to where a group of people are present.
· Teach children that coyotes are wild, unpredictable animals that should never be approached and should only be viewed from a safe distance. If an animal appears ‘jumpy’ or nervous when people move, they are probably too close and should move slowly away to a safer distance.
To report coyote attacks on pets, contact City of Boulder Urban Wildlife Coordinator Valerie Matheson at 303-441-3004 or mathesonv@bouldercolorado.gov. If you witness coyotes acting aggressively toward a person in Boulder, report the encounter to the Boulder Police Department by calling 303-441-3333. The Colorado Division of Wildlife offers information on how to safely coexist with the numerous animal species that are native to Colorado and the Front Range. For more information, visit the CDOW website at http://wildlife.state.co.us or call 303-297-1192.