CONSENSUS

Protect your pets from wild predators

By Mysti Tatro Redstone Review

LYONS – Several stories have recently emerged regarding attacks by coyotes and mountain lions on small pets. Coincidentally, I’ve recently experienced an encounter with a local predator.

My two-year-old border collie-German shepherd mix, George, and I were out for an afternoon stroll at the open space where I live. The trail travels through prairie, wetlands, and cottonwood trees that many species of wildlife call home. I’ve enjoyed watching a plethora of birds, deer, and waterfowl along the river during my walks.

However, this time my precious pet and I came in contact with a coyote. George was on his retractable leash, trotting along the edge of the tall grass by the walking trail. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw another “dog” behind us. I swiveled around to find a coyote intensely staring down my pup and inching closer. I called George in a panic and bellowed at the curious critter, “Go away.”

The wild canine bolted into the tall brush, obviously frightened by my sudden response. I continued my anxious fit, waving my hands in the air, stomping and shouting a mix of warrior cries until I felt the coyote was sufficiently far away. We successfully avoided confrontation, and I had to thank my recent readings for the information on what to do in these situations. Given my encounter, I feel even more passionate about sharing the humane ways to deal with predators when it comes to our beloved pets.

In the past, predators have typically been dealt with by killing off mass amounts of the population. This “solution” is neither effective nor beneficial. For example, the U.S. has participated in the indiscriminate killing of large numbers of coyotes for over 100 years. The goal was to reduce the frequency of conflicts, but instead, it caused coyotes to migrate into new areas and encouraged breeding due to the disruption in social structure. These mass killings also correlated with unhealthy ecosystems. By eradicating coyotes, the ecosystem becomes unbalanced and can even escalate other wildlife conflicts.

Currently wildlife managers and social scientists have proposed new solutions to dealing with predators involving humans changing their behavior. In terms of predator-pet conflict, that means that dog and cat guardians have the responsibility of protecting their pets. The tips I’ll share with you can help keep your pets safe and promote balance in our ecosystem.

Watch your pet during backyard time: While it is tempting to let your pet go outside on its own, it can be dangerous. Coyotes, foxes, and even mountain lions have been known to jump the fences of urban backyards and attack pets. Keep a watchful eye on your furred friend and watch the low-growing brush on your property while they are outside. Yes, coyotes and foxes do come out during the daytime too.

Remove attractants around your home: Pet food should be stored inside air-tight containers. Wild predators can easily sniff out Fido’s dog food if left out. Other attractants include food scraps, garbage, fruit trees, and water resources.

Avoid using flexi-leashes in wild spaces: I made this mistake. While thankfully my dog is great with the “come” command, if I had a small dog that I needed to draw in quickly, the retractable leash might not be swift enough. Always be prepared to pick up small dogs in a hurry while in coyote country.

Haze animals that are too close for comfort: In my case, it was hard to tell whether the coyote wanted to play with George or if it was planning to defend its territory. All I knew was that six feet was too close, and

Tatro I wasn’t waiting to find out its intentions. The best hazing methods are to be loud, look large, and stand your ground. Never turn your back and run, crouch down, or let your pet get close to the other animal.

It’s important to remember that most of the time, these predators are more afraid of us than we are of them. Please keep in mind that we are sharing their home too. With a few simple behavior changes, we can learn to live in harmony with our local wildlife.

Mysti Tatro is the Communications & Marketing Coordinator at Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. For information, call 303-823-8455 or www.greenwoodwildlife.org.

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tunity to meet Janice Marchman, ask questions and share your thoughts and concerns with her on March 29, April 26 or May 31. For more information, you can go to her website at www.janiceforcolorado.com or email her at janiceforcolorado@gmail.com.

Fundraiser for Youth Softball and Baseball

LYONS – Join the Colorado Rockies to celebrate Youth Baseball and Softball Days and help support our local youth athletes at the same time. Local youth teams and their families, friends, and anyone who wants to is welcome to attend. Local teams are welcomed to Coors Field with a scoreboard message and may have the chance to parade around the field. So come on out to the old ball game for a day of fun. Tickets are for the Colorado Rockies VS Atlanta Braves game on Sunday June 5 at 1:10 pm. The cost is $40 (a $5 savings off regular ticket price). For more information, go to the townoflyons.com/recreation for information on all their offerings or call the Town Hall at 303-823-6622.

Lyons Community Church Sunday worship in person at 10 a.m. Sundays

LYONS – The Rev. Emily Hagan will begin the series discussed this month about the Way of St. James, and will continue through Easter, April 17, at Lyons Community Church at 350 W. Main St. We are learning to walk as pilgrims and looking at where Jesus walked. It is open for all to attend.

We also have a special showing of The Way the movie with Martin Sean on April 2, at Niwot UMC at 6 p.m.

Blue Canyon Boys will lead the music on April 10 at 10 a.m. Please plan to join us for this special Palm Sunday Worship.

Easter worship will be at 10 a.m. on Sunday, April 17 with an Easter egg hunt following worship. We welcome you all to attend as you are able. If you are interested in Continuing the Conversation about anti-racism we will meet via zoom next on Thursday April 7 at 6:30 p.m.

Grace and Peace from Pastor Emily Hagan, serving God with Lyons Community Church. She can be reached at pastor@lyonscommunitychurch.org or cell: 719-248-0477 or office at Lyons: 303-823-6245 or office at Lafayette: 303-665-5165. Pastor Hagan says, “I look forward to getting back to you. I check email regularly, but if you need faster service, please feel free to text. Friday is my sabbath, Saturday is usually a day off.”

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go out to dinner with a large group of friends followed by music, or a show, or a movie; people who lovingly grow plants from seed every spring. The list of things we can do to care for ourselves is endless. It only needs to feed you, support you, and not hurt you or anyone or anything else. We need some form of release, some form of support, and ideally some place where we are seen and accepted for who we are, no questions asked.

There is a feeling in our culture that extraversion is normal, and introverts have something wrong with them. One of the great gifts of the pandemic lock-down is that many introverts have realized how toxic it is to be pushed to be something they are not, and now feel more comfortable claiming their right to not socialize.

Our societal norms pressure us and we pressure ourselves to be upbeat and positive: “Hi! How are you?” we cry when we meet an acquaintance. There is only one type of answer that is acceptable: “Fine” or “good,” or “getting along,” regardless of how you are really feeling. I can say from experience, if you are feeling depressed, or isolated, or alone, this question is torture. You are miserable, and this person does not want to, or does not have time to, hear about that (usually) but still our society forces us into these ridiculous, and often cruel, interchanges.

We do not need to answer that question. Frankly, we should stop asking that question. It has turned into a formality, without awareness of how painful and inappropriate it can be. How about “Great to see you!” instead. Better one lie alone than a lie wrapped in a possibly cruel question that pretends concern. It just makes the times anyone is struggling harder. I do not believe that this is what we want.

We also do not need an excuse to take care of ourselves, to give others space for themselves. We need to be kind to ourselves, to our families, to each other, to the planet. We need to be kind and give the benefit of the doubt to every single person we interact with these days: our family, our neighbors, our friends, co-workers, and to every person who has to work behind a counter or provide any service anywhere for too much hassle and too little money.

The other day I was at the end of my rope. My PTSD was running me, I was not running me. I teared up at everything. The picture of the little girls killed in Ukraine had put me over the edge. I finally called the crisis line: I just needed to cry and talk about how this was making me feel. They were wonderful. Please put this number in your phone. Maybe you will need it, maybe a friend or a stranger will need you to call it for them. The Colorado Crisis Line is 844-493-8255, the national crisis line number is 800-273-8255 (press 1 for Vets), Spanish is 888-628-9454.

Call them just to find out how easy it is, tell them you are just trying it out, in case it is needed some day. Doing only that one thing increases the chances that you will call when it is needed by 80 percent. I just needed someone to be there while I cried. Some people need someone to be there so they do not hurt themselves or someone else. These numbers save lives and broken hearts. It is worth the momentary discomfort of calling them just to experience it, knowing that doing so now may help you to save a life in the future.

I hope you take care of yourself and give space to those around you for them to take care of themselves. I hope you know how to ask for help when you need it, give help when asked for it, and encourage others to get help when you cannot give it. I wish you a way to find peace. I wish us all a way to find some peace. May we all, may the world, find peace.

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ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE THE ICONIC STONE CUP CAFE BUILDING IN BEAUTIFUL

DOWNTOWN LYONS! Also known as “Lyons’ Front Porch” where you see and hear what is happening and actively make things happen! Cafe business and all fixtures, furnishings, equipment and inventory is included in price—truly a “turn-key” operation! Huge lot for parking, events, storage, etc. Separate retail space currently rented for $1,000/mo. A money-maker-in-waiting! Building and all inclusions are in excellent condition. Loads of outdoor seating on south and west-facing patios with custom stonework and ironwork—and amazing views! Plans available for 2nd story dwelling unit + garage for live/work opportunity.

442 High Street / $1,500,000

GORGEOUS, CUSTOM HOME IN THE COVETED OLD-TOWN LYONS

NEIGHBORHOOD! The location is a dream as it’s walking distance to everything downtown including shops, restaurants, and the elementary school. Built in 2014, it is unique to “old town” Lyons, but its character fits right in. The main floor features a spacious, open floor plan with 9 foot ceilings, 1/2 bath, walk-in pantry, Colorado red granite countertops and stainless steel appliances in the kitchen, and the master bedroom/bathroom. The upper level contains 2 bedrooms and a full bathroom, but don’t forget to look for the secret fort (or storage area) between the 2 rooms! The fully finished walkout basement also has 9 foot ceilings, a family room, laundry/storage area, 3/4 bathroom, and a gym. The backyard features a deck, large sandstone patio, a shed for plenty of storage, flower garden, parking area, and alley access. You don’t want to miss this!

323 Stickney Avenue / $860,000 SOLD

GREAT SOUTHERN EXPOSURE AND LOVELY VIEWS ARE THE MAIN FEATURES OF THIS 1.36 ACRE LOT ADJOINING 99 ACRES OF PRIVATE OPEN SPACE WITH HIKING TRAILS AND LITTLE THOMPSON RIVER FRONTAGE!

Easy access just 10 minutes from Town of Lyons with all of its highly rated schools, music and art festivals, restaurants, parks and trails. Electricity and shared well at the lot. Views of amazing geological features, river valley, and abundant wildlife! Sunship is a small community sharing a vision of peaceful & sustainable living.

1115 Vision Way, Lyons / $195,000

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LEAF Continued from Page 6

LEAF’s teams, the support of the community, the needs we have seen and served. What I haven’t yet shared, and it’s at the heart of LEAF, is the joy. There is joy at LEAF every day. Our teams and our participants know and care for one another. There’s no shame at LEAF, not ever. The people at LEAF are building beautiful community together, and that is a beautiful thing for this community.

What have I learned these past two years? Nonprofit work is hard. Nonprofit work is wonderful. Human services work never ends. LEAF’s volunteers are unstoppable. We can never plan or budget well enough, we can never prepare enough. Because unknown and new crises, within single households, in our community, or across our entire country, will always come our way. As the first line of defense against human services needs, LEAF has to be prepared. Please share your heart for Lyons and partner with us.

By the way, we at LEAF joyfully and hopefully continue to make plans around here to scale our work to meet community needs, both known and new. Stay tuned.

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make a difference right here in our own backyard? For just $1/day or $30/month, you can help local projects get off the ground and send high school students to college. At LCF, we like to think that our monthly donors plant seeds that bloom all year long. Seeds like human services, community connectivity, youth investment and local ecology help grow our community into a bountiful garden of beautiful wildflowers. Now, who wouldn’t subscribe to that?

“I choose to give monthly to LCF because as an Advisory Board member for five years I know how essential it is to be able to build an annual budget based on reliable and stable income. I love this community and believe in and admire all the wonderful folks who desire to improve the quality of life in the Lyons area through the thoughtful and meaningful work of their non-profit organizations. I’m proud to be a community builder,” says Jeanne Moore, LCF Chairperson.

In the next month, you will receive a postcard in the mail that looks like the one pictured on page 9. If you enjoy live concerts in the park, the Holiday Parade of Lights, local history, beautiful gardens, educational opportunities for your children, public art, human services, etc., then we ask that you consider becoming an LCF Community Builder. If you are interested and are able to give back to this amazing community, please visit our website to set up a monthly contribution at www.lyonscf.org.

Community members are always encouraged to get involved with the Lyons Community Foundation. If you are new to town, this is a great way to meet new people. You can either volunteer on one of LCF’s committees or you can become an Advisory Board member. To find out more, please visit our website at www.lyonscf.org. You can also drop us an email at info@lyonscf.org. We would love to hear from you.

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Summer Artisan Market

LYONS – Join artisans in Bohn Park at199 2nd Avenue, for the 2nd annual Summer Artisan Market to be held Saturday, June 4, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sign up today to sell your quality creations in a lovely outdoor setting along the St Vrain Creek in Lyons. Each vendor will receive room for a 10' x 10' booth space with plenty of space in between booths for shoppers to browse. The cost of a booth is $40 and be purchased by people 18 and older. Tables may be in sun or shade depending on the time of day. Shade tents are allowed, with water weights or sandbags to hold them down. Staking in the turf is not permitted. This event is planned to run in conjunction with the Lyons Community Foundation BBQ and cook-off and will feature live entertainment. Vendors are responsible for obtaining a Special Event License from the state, as well as filing their special event sales tax return following the event. For more information, visit lyonscolorado.com/summer-artisan-market.

Janaki Jane writes on issues of society and mental health. She currently works as a Child Cares Outbreak Investigator in the COVID19 response, teaches suicide prevention, and runs the Wide Spaces Community Initiative, “Creating a Community of Belonging and Personal Safety for Everyone,” a program of the Lyons Community Library. You can read more of her writing at www.janakijane.com.

Lory Barton is the Executive Director at LEAF, Lyons Emergency & Assistance Fund. Having previously served with local and international non-profit organizations, she’s glad and grateful to partner with so many at LEAF to change our small corner of the world in the Greater Lyons area.

Tanya Mercer-Daty is the new Marketing and Communications Associate for Lyons Community Foundation. She has lived in Lyons for the past eight years after immigrating to the U.S. with her family in 2011. Feel free to contact her at tanya@lyonscf.org.