Colorado Parks and Wildlife has launched an educational campaign, “Wintering Wildlife Conservation Initiative” to convince people not to disturb winter wildlife.
“Wildlife are most vulnerable to human disturbance during the winter months,” according to a state news release. “There is an urgent need to increase public awareness about the challenges wintering wildlife faces and what we can all do to protect and minimize human impacts on wildlife in winter.”
‘Minimize human disturbance’
The campaign is a partnership of Winter Wildlands Alliance and Colorado Mountain Club. Funding for the project comes from Great Outdoors Colorado. “The primary goal of this initiative is to minimize human disturbance to wildlife during the winter and spring,” according to the news release. “Colorado has multiple big game species, including elk, mule deer, moose, and bighorn sheep. Winter disturbance or stress caused by humans jeopardizes these animal’s ability to survive into the following season and reduces females’ chances of successfully raising offspring. Disturbance on public land winter ranges can also push wildlife onto private lands or into transportation corridors. Thus winter disturbance can lead to significant herd and population declines, as well as increased road kill and game damage on private lands. This campaign hopes to influence recreators to be aware of wildlife winter ranges and winter habitat needs and to use caution when entering areas with signs of recent wildlife activity.”