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Old 11-26-2012, 10:58 AM
 
Location: Berkeley Neighborhood, Denver, CO USA
17,711 posts, read 29,823,179 times
Reputation: 33301

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Quote:
Originally Posted by nep321 View Post
How much of a concern are grizzly bears when hiking? I don't want to be killed.
Have you looked at the grey wolf population of CT?
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Old 11-26-2012, 11:38 AM
 
Location: Na'alehu Hawaii/Buena Vista Colorado
5,529 posts, read 12,669,721 times
Reputation: 6198
Quote:
Originally Posted by nep321 View Post
How much of a concern are grizzly bears when hiking? I don't want to be killed.
None at all. I Googled bear attack statistics and found one killing by bear in Colorado in the last twenty years. And that was a person who was feeding them after being repeatedly warned not to.

Unless you want to go on a ten mile overnighter into a wilderness area, most of the trails are heavily populated by humans. We go hiking into the back country around Buena Vista when we are there in the summer and even on the less populated trails we have never seen bears. If you are worried about wildlife encounters, then just hike on trails near the metro area.
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Old 11-26-2012, 12:42 PM
 
Location: On the corner of Grey Street
6,126 posts, read 10,107,581 times
Reputation: 11796
East coast transplant here. Sometimes I miss the greenery of the east coast, but the pros far outweigh the cons for me. The winters can be cold and snowy sure, but they are nowhere near as bad as people make them out to be. I'd take Denver winter over New England winter anyday. The snow melts fast because there's so much wonderful sunshine! The sunshine is my favorite part. I hated all those gloomy rainy east coast days. The people here are in general very friendly. I've even made friends in Denver from this forum.

I think you'd love it here, come on out!
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Old 11-26-2012, 02:17 PM
 
Location: Colorado
4,306 posts, read 13,471,916 times
Reputation: 4478
Do we have grizzly bears in Colorado? I thought they were much further north.
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Old 11-26-2012, 02:39 PM
 
Location: Littleton, CO
3,158 posts, read 6,124,244 times
Reputation: 5619
Quote:
Originally Posted by chilaili View Post
Do we have grizzly bears in Colorado? I thought they were much further north.
There are no grizzly bears in Colorado. The last one was killed several decades ago. There are black bears, but they don't really attack humans. What you need to be on the lookout for are mountain lions. They are everywhere. You may not have seen any mountain lions while hiking, but I guarantee that mountain lions have seen you while you were hiking.
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Old 11-26-2012, 03:20 PM
 
3,127 posts, read 5,053,725 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nep321 View Post
How much of a concern are grizzly bears when hiking? I don't want to be killed.
I take back everything I said above. You will not like the Denver area. Coyotes run rampant through the city and suburbs. They attack joggers and small children. I see these all the time. Had two run across the road in front of me just last week.
Wildlife Officials Warn About Increasingly Aggressive Coyotes « CBS Denver
In two months, three coyote attacks on kids in Broomfield - The Denver Post

Rattlesnakes buzz around your ankles while hiking. I've seen quite a few.

Rattlesnake on the bike trail along C-470 and Green Mountain at Golden, Colorado - YouTube

Mountain lions visit your back patio. I've seen one while hiking but they are hard to spot.
Photos: Mountain Lion and Cat in Boulder

Hawks, eagles and owls are happy to swoop down and grab small dogs, they will also buzz your head. A couple of months ago a huge owl buzzed over us at night. A couple of weeks ago an owl was perched on a tree outside our house. The hooting was so loud I could hear it through the bathroom vents. My neighbor's small dog was almost carried off by a hawk (or maybe it was the owl).
Beware Of Dive-Bombing Hawks In Westminster « CBS Denver

Moose, elk and cows will charge you if they feel like it. I've seen a murderous looking cow before. Not something you want to tangle with. I've seen lots of elk and the occasional moose while hiking. We always keep our distance.
Estes Park woman seriously injured in elk attack | KDVR.com – Denver News, Weather & Sports from FOX 31 News in Denver, Colorado
WHEN COWS ATTACK: Colorado bicylist escapes serious injury after bovine assault
Moose attacks toddler in Colorado | koaa.com | Colorado Springs | Pueblo |

The bears don't like people either. We've seen them on occasion. One of my dogs has a sixth bear sense. When he tries to fold himself inside his own skin I know one is nearby.
Two more bear attacks occur in woods near Aspen - The Denver Post
Bear put down after attacking Colorado teen at bowhunters event - The Denver Post

The bears will come into town to get in folks trash.
Photos: Bear Tranquilized in Denver Neighborhood

They will get into cars and trash them also.
Hungry black bear crashes car in pursuit of peanut butter sandwich - New York Daily News
3 little bears caught after Colo. crime spree - New York Daily News

If you are scared of wildlife then Denver outdoor activities are not for you and maybe it is better to look at more populated areas.

Last edited by mic111; 11-26-2012 at 04:31 PM..
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Old 11-26-2012, 03:36 PM
 
Location: Berkeley Neighborhood, Denver, CO USA
17,711 posts, read 29,823,179 times
Reputation: 33301
Default Beer

Quote:
Originally Posted by mic111 View Post
If you are scared of wildlife then Denver outdoor activities are not for you and maybe it is better to look at more populated areas.
Mic111 is having fun with your head Nep321, but you started it with the grizzly comment.
My advice is drink beer.
By the time you get here another brewery will have opened in greater Denver. They pop up faster than magic mushrooms.
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Old 11-26-2012, 03:58 PM
 
Location: Brooklyn
86 posts, read 126,958 times
Reputation: 71
You just scared the hell out of me. I just had visions of my cavalier attempting to fight of a grizzly_rattle_lion. It's definitely going to be a huge adjustment for me. All I deal with are aggressive rats the size of ferrets and deer if I drive upstate.
But seriously common sense probably prevents most attacks right? Right?!?!
How prevalent are snakes on bike trails. I tend to bike alone and was eyeing green mountain as a frequent spot to go.
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Old 11-26-2012, 04:22 PM
 
26,212 posts, read 49,044,521 times
Reputation: 31781
Yes, common sense will keep you safe when out walking/hiking.

Wildlife is afraid of you, and will retreat if you stay calm. If you do come across a bear, do NOT turn and run, that is the equivalent of yelling I'M YUMMY AS HELL AND READY FOR YOU TO EAT ME. Just remain calm and back away. Bear spray is also worth carrying in many areas. You can search on this topic and find old postings that explain all this stuff. Attacks by bears and wildcats are so rare that I can't recall the last one, but bears are around and they are lazy opportunists, like this carpool of them.




But don't leave your old plumbing outside, else they will use it too.

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Old 11-26-2012, 04:51 PM
 
3,127 posts, read 5,053,725 times
Reputation: 7465
Quote:
Originally Posted by Owain1 View Post
You just scared the hell out of me. I just had visions of my cavalier attempting to fight of a grizzly_rattle_lion. It's definitely going to be a huge adjustment for me. All I deal with are aggressive rats the size of ferrets and deer if I drive upstate.
But seriously common sense probably prevents most attacks right? Right?!?!
How prevalent are snakes on bike trails. I tend to bike alone and was eyeing green mountain as a frequent spot to go.
Yes, common sense prevails. If you see a snake do not step on it. I throw pebbles to move it off the trail if it is blocking my way but I stay well back when doing this. Several times I've almost stepped on one because they are some times hard to see but since I didn't step on them they don't attack me. I don't think you will have a problem on a bike. When hiking I wear the boots that come just above the ankle for protection and I have a snake bite kit in my car. I've never used it.

Last edited by mic111; 11-26-2012 at 05:00 PM..
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