Prairie Trees

Woody Plants in Kansas

High line canal funding efforts

Group seeks funds for High Line Canal projects - Your Hub

Man Commits Suicide in Eisenhower Park Denver

The suicide occurred at 4:15 today in Eisenhower Park. My prayers go out to his loved ones. Very sad.

Try to guess these bird silhouettes

Some of these might be hard to make out but there are 15 different bird silhouettes see how many you can identify.

Monster 2 1/2 + Foot Asparagus Found in Denver

32 inches to be exact. 2 1/2 inch radius. 5 pounds (not really). Highline Pride variety.

First Asparagus of 2012 Along Highline Canal - April 3, 2012

Just came across some early asparagus spears along the highline canal. A total of about 10 peeking through the snow... I ate one tender spear....delicious!!! Many more to come as it gets hotter in the weeks ahead! (Golf ball added for size/ reference) :}

Turtle Sunning Himself In Cherry Hills Pond

Turtles are out early this year...since before St. Patrick's day.

Beaver tracks at cherry creek state park?

Sent from my Cricket mobile device

Denver Coyote Report

I had an interesting discussion with a dog owner the other night regarding an encounter he had with three coyotes in the harvard gulch park area on the night of february 20th.

While walking his two large dogs in the park he noticed they became very interested in a yellow utility pole. Both dogs repeatedly sniffed and subsequently marked the utility pole. While his dogs were doing their business he turned around and noticed 3 coyotes approximately 15 to 20 yards from him. In his experience the coyotes in the park had never shown such obvious interest in him or his dogs. When he noticed the coyotes staring directly at his dogs he quickly grabbed them and continued his walk. As he continued on he noticed the coyotes quickly converged on the utility pole and began sniffing and marking it themselves. The coyotes posed no threat to him or his dogs but their behavior is evidence of this time of year which is breeding season. Coyotes are typically in heat in february and march and view other large dogs as competition. Unfortunately, they view small dogs aspirin

While coyotes are in heat it is extremely important to keep our dogs on a short leash and away from dense wooded and tall prairie grass filled areas.

Do you have any coyote sightings or stories you'd like to share with us? Please do!

Coyote population along the Highline canal

For about 3 years now, I have been hiking the highline canal trail in search of coyotes. I mostly walk the trail along bible park, hutchinson park, eisenhower park, wellshire golf course, Three Ponds park, kent denver school in cherry hills village, and the preserve in greenwood village colorado.

I have also walked trails in littleton colorado including the platte river trail, littles creek, big dry creek and the highline canal throughout southwest denver.

Coyote population count:

Denver
Bible park / hutchinson park: 3 with a couple pups (pack)

Eisenhower park: 1-2 loners

Wellshire golf course: 3 adult coyotes and 4 pups (pack)

Cherry hills village
Three ponds park: 3 adults and 2 pups (pack)

Kent denver day school: 5-6 adults and 3 pups (pack) + 1 - 2 loners

Greenwood village
The preserve: 3 adults and 2 pups (pack)

The most intriguing coyote I have encountered is 1 that lives in wellshire golf course. He is coming up on his first birthday and he tends to follow me at a distance on a nightly basis. His name is buddy.

Another very interesting coyote is 1 that lives near kent denver in cherry hills village. I have only encountered this coyote a couple times. It is fairly large and has dark fur. My 8 year old son named him "smokey". We haven't seen smokey in awhile although I do walk the trail during the day and late at night. I'm sure will see him again soon.

Many people ask me if I fear these animals and I tell them all the same thing; they want nothing to do with us and we simply need to respect them and the areas they inhabit.

Coyotes are beautiful animals and I believe deserve protection and the right to live harmoniously amongst us in urban areas. If you have any coyote stories or sightings of your own please feel free to share them with us here.

Muddy trail in cherry creek state park

I'm walking on the pipeline trail in cherry creek state park just off the cottonwood creek trailhead. Pipeline trail cuts through the wetlands preserve area of the park. What a mess!! The snow melt has made this a very muddy trail. I have yet to see any deer and for the second straight day there are no birds or squirrels out. I'm sure I'll see some wildlife later on in my walk... when I do pictures will follow.

Sent from my Cricket mobile device