Page 87 - Ranger Manual 2017_Neat

Black bears
Urban areas encroaching onto wildland habitats has impacted basic black bear biology and led to a
decrease in the density of black bears on wildlands. Human food rewards are the primary cause of
black bears’ aggressive behaviors. Providing a food reward creates a learned behavior and bears
return to areas with predictable anthropogenic food sources. Research has shown black bears learn
to forage for anthropogenic food after receiving a food reward, underscoring why anthropogenic
attractants are the primary cause of conflicts between humans and black bears.

Although black bears are of little threat to humans, there are potential safety risks when bears take
temporary refuge in trees during daylight hours; rangers should allow bears to remain until they
leave on their own. Rangers are expected to assist with black bears within Boulder city limits if
requested to do so.

Mountain lion caches
Rangers should try to minimize disturbing these caches to allow for natural processes to take place.
When responding to potential mountain lion caches on OSMP properties or within city limits, two
commissioned rangers should respond with at least one shotgun loaded with lethal ammunition
immediately available during the investigation. However, if rangers determine there is an active
mountain lion cache, every effort should be made to leave it alone or move the cache an appropriate
distance away from a trail, trailhead, or a high visitor use area based on the surrounding terrain.

Rangers may decide to remove lion caches from public or private properties or from highly
populated or visited areas, altogether; if so, they must notify CPW and work with them and animal
control to determine the best course of action when working within Boulder city limits.

Other Wildlife Species
OSMP properties are home to a variety of wildlife species; therefore, rangers respond to a variety of
calls. Rangers should notify other rangers and the OSMP wildlife ecologist supervisor when
interesting or unusual wildlife species are found or incidents occur. Rangers should consult CPW,
the OSMP wildlife ecologist, and a senior ranger when responding to unusual or complicated
wildlife situations and ongoing human-wildlife conflict incidents.

Wildlife Euthanasia and Adverse Conditioning
Euthanasia
Rangers should follow the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) Guidelines for the
Euthanasia of Animals. Euthanasia is derived from the Greek terms eu meaning good and thanatos
meaning death. A good death is tantamount to the humane termination of an animal’s life.
Euthanizing agents cause death by three basic mechanisms: (1) direct depression of neurons neces-
sary for life function, (2) hypoxia, and (3) physical disruption of brain activity.

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