Our Foothills Home and Wildlife Need Protection -- from our Panther

We lived in a beautiful community just south of Denver in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The hills you see in the picture above are out our east kitchen windows. Our property backs up to the Pike National Forest so I can always say it is part of our backyard. As you imagine, we have lots and lots of wildlife in our yard and we want to preserve our wildlife habitat while we live in the center of it.

Therefore, we have to be careful not to let our little black kitty Neko out. He would show no mercy to the wildlife! He has been cited by the Wildlife Habitat and Territory (WHAT!) society as being a danger to the environment and wildlife surrounding our home. Neko knows no fear and will defend his home against any and all alien wildlife creatures, including humans and the following critters we have found in our yard:

We have bears, ...

Mama bear and her two cubs

This is how close the bears are; that black spot just over
Ken's shoulder

... and lots and lots of deer:

Our front yard ...

... at the front door ...

... the back deck ...

... grove next to our back deck ...

... tasting the seeds from the bird feeders ...

... even trusting us with their newborns.

We have foxes ...

... and wild turkeys ...

... lots and lots of birds ...

... and yes, mountains lions.

Just outside our garage door

Yes, that mountain lion is just outside the window 

on the south of our house!

Nothing like looking out your window at the mountain lion and then she turns and stares at you!

We also have raccoons, porcupines, and coyotes. I didn't get pictures of the skunks. You can imagine why.

"TWAS" - The Wild Animal Sanctuary

"TWAS" is this incredible wild predator reserve for lions and tigers and bears (yeah, I know) and wolves and leopards that is just north of the Denver area.  I have supported this place for the past several years, but this was my first visit. I went with my husband Ken, my youngest son Dane and his girlfriend Christina. What a wonderful place! I could spend paragraphs and paragraphs describing it, but you can just go to the website http://www.wildanimalsanctuary.org/ for information and donating.

High Five!

We strolled through the sanctuary on an elevated walkway peering down on the animals. The theory is that the animals don't pay any attention to us because they think of us in the same way they think of birds. It was the heat of the day, so most of the animals were sleeping. Unfortunately, it made most of the animals look like they were either fake or dead. I think even Neko might not be able to take on some of these guys.

The only safe way to pet a lion

Another Treat of Living in Roxborough - GOATS

Roxborough is one of those Colorado communities considered the foothills. Because of that, we are always in danger of forest fires. Pike's National Park starts (or ends, depending on your perspective, at the back of our house. It is beautiful but a fire could change everything, and in several mountain and foothills communities, that has happened over the past several years.

A small slice of 400 goats by our deck.

So our neighborhood took the unusual step of protecting itself with goats. Yes, 400 male goats with horns and beards and huge appetites. This week, the goats were moved to the valley below our house and what a treat! They had no interest in the people watching them; they just wanted to munch and munch.  The sound of 400 sets of grinding teeth was amusing, but so was the 'other sounds' goats make when eating lots and lots of fiber.

Moving the goats around Roxborough

And yes, the mountain lion has been in the area and I understand the lion got one of the goats last week. The owners of the goats put up a fence around the area the goats feed in, and during the day, they are protected by dogs. They don't leave the dogs with the goats at night though, because they are too protective. All five dogs would go after the lion and possibly be hurt or killed. The goat owners said they would rather lose one goat to a lion rather than any of their well-trained and valuable dogs.

Neko is not amused with 

all the extra creatures in his valley.

They stayed in our valley for two days before moving to next area.  What was truly amazing was it took only about 15 minutes to move them out of our area. Maybe the goat subscribe to the idiom of the grass is greener.  However, from what I see, most of what they were eating was brown. After all, it is October.

Ken taking picture. I stayed on the deck.

Finally, Pictures of our Mountain Lion

In case you didn't believe me ...
It is 11:40 at night. We looked out the window before going to bed, and the mountain lion was sitting there just outside the window. That is a planter just under him and that is on the inside. We grabbed the camera and tried to take some pictures through the glass. Then he turned and stared at us with those amber eyes. I felt a shock through my arms and legs. I guess that primeval fear is deep in our DNA. Then he got up and walked away into the night. I am still a bit unnerved.

Enchantment So Close By

Have you ever visited an Enchanted Grove?

The next time you are in Roxborough State Park, take the path to Carpenter's Peak, but before going up to the peak, turn south. Continue down the gravel road for about a half mile until you see the statue of the eagle and Greek goddess.

Take the path.

Soon you will see the mountain lions on the rock ledge. You can disregard the sign I posted yesterday about what to do if you come face to face with a mountain lion. These pumas are not going anywhere. They are delightful wooden sculptures of three little cougars playing. This is best way to experience mountain lion encounters in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

Ken and I took a hike on Sunday to visit one of the best-kept secrets in the Roxborough area. The woodland paths invite you in, calling you to play.

  

Turn the path to the right to see could be on the other side of the ledge.  You enter a clearing with benches and in the distance -- could that be -- a throne?

It is carved marble covered with images of lions as if to celebrate our local carnivore.

 

 

 But you are not done with your exploration of the Enchanting Clearing. A path crawls up to the west. Yes, you will be panting by the time you reach the top, but it is so worth it. You have now reach of the overlook of the valley you were just in. Sit back in the chairs at the top and enjoy the view.

This clearing was created by the Goodwins. It is truly a gift to all of us.

In the Path of a Mountain Lion

 Over the last couple of weeks, I have posted about the mountain lion in our neighborhood. As we took our hike on Sunday, this sign was posted at the beginning of the trail. Now it was mid-morning when we ventured into this territory, but I kept an eye out for movement along the top of the rock surrounding us.


It was about then that I looked down and saw a perfect paw print in the sand on the trail. That is one big kitty! He also appears to be traveling ahead of us. Since it rains the night before, softening the sand, I have to wonder how long enough did he pass this way before us.  Again, I glance at the rock formations over our head, hoping and not hoping to see the brown body of a lion slinking by.  We never did see the real one.


 But wait, what is that on that rock ledge?

Ha! Fooled you. It's part of the Enchanted Clearing at the end of our hike (they are wooden). More about that tomorrow.