THE CHALLENGE
Wildlife in Colorado face increasing challenges to their survival. The rapid urbanization of our rural and previously
uninhabited areas is eliminating wildlife habitats at a terrifying rate. Many species simply have no place to go. Even
in wilderness areas, human recreation puts negative stress on animals which create many negative effects on their well-being.
Increased foot and bicycle traffic on trails and in mountain parks has an enormous impact on wildlife. The Colorado drought
has created even more problems with food sources and water needs.
The wildlife in the increasingly urban areas face more difficult problems than habitat loss. Wild animals sustain
injuries and often death primarily from encounters with domestic pets, contact with automobiles and collisions with structures.
Domestic pets are by far the prime source of wildlife injury and death. House cats catch millions of wild animals
annually (as many as 200 million nationwide by one account). If pets are not vaccinated, they can transfer diseases such as
canine and feline distemper.
Automobiles cause a huge amount of wildlife mortality and injury. Increasing traffic, high speeds, and construction
of roads in rural areas take a devastating toll on wild animals.
Collisions with buildings is particularly hazardous for birds. An enormous number of birds slam into picture
windows daily. As more and larger houses are built in rural areas, the frequency of structure collisions increases dramatically.
