CU Boulder might be known for its educational prowess, but it's also a hotspot for wild animals that have students and faculty turning their heads. According to CU Boulder Today, the campus is a regular party for raccoons, squirrels, and even coyotes and bears on rare occasions. Sharing green spaces with wildlife, the university urges its community to keep a respectful distance and resist the urge to turn these animals into their unintended lunch guests.
Getting cozy with these furry and feathered locals isn't on the agenda, CU Boulder's Environmental Services team has made it clear that wildlife should remain just that, wild. As obtained by CU Boulder Today, wildlife manager and integrated pest manager Troy Muller, said, "CU Boulder’s setting provides ample opportunities for observing wildlife, enhancing our enjoyment of campus and the outdoors." With a cascade of tips, they recommend not to feed or approach animals and to contact Wardenburg Health Center immediately if a bushy-tailed squirrel breaks the 'look but don't touch' rule with a bite.
The reason for the tight restrictions, besides safety, is disease prevention. Squirrels might not carry rabies, but they're not clean critters, and CU's health services are ready to educate on what might ail a person after an animal encounter. For aquatic wildlife admirers, don't toss your sandwich scraps to the turtles or fish in the campus ponds, it's just as frowned upon.
The crew works in collaboration with experts from Boulder Animal Control and Colorado Parks and Wildlife, aiming to make sure every creature, great and small, gets the VIP treatment it needs to either recover or, in solemn cases, be removed from the scene.
