Numerous non-domestic animals dwell in Golden and the surrounding areas.
Mountain Lions – If you hike with small children, always keep them near you as a mountain lion may not attack you, but they have attacked children separated from adults.
Deer – If you see a deer on the road while driving at night, slow down and change the brightness of your car lights. Changing the brightness of your lights back and forth enables the animal’s eyes to adjust and creates less chance of having an animal jump in front of your car.
Small Animals – Don’t try to catch slow moving animals such as rodents or rabbits. When they are moving slow, they might be infected with the bubonic plague or other diseases.
Rattlesnakes – Be careful when stepping over logs, rocks, etc. as rattlesnakes seek shade on warm days under bushes or rocks. Rattlesnakes usually try to warn you with their rattle! If you hear a rattle noise, stop and then slowly move away. Before hiking, consider purchasing a rattlesnake bite kit. If bitten, the poison moves quickly, so call for help and move as little as possible.
Any Animal – Please do not feed or try to touch wild animals. They may look harmless, but even though animals might appear in your backyard, they can still be dangerous.