Denver's parks come with prairie dogs, geese, foxes, and coyotes

You do not have to drive to the mountains to meet Colorado wildlife. A lot of it lives in Denver.

City parks and open spaces are home to black-tailed prairie dogs, which live in colonies and are a keystone species that many other animals depend on. Canada geese gather at park lakes, and the city manages them in several ways. Red foxes and coyotes also move through neighborhoods and greenways, especially around dawn and dusk.

The most important habit is simple: do not feed them. Feeding wild animals, on purpose or by leaving trash and pet food out, makes them bold and can lead to problems for both people and pets. Keep garbage secured, clean up fallen fruit, and watch small pets outside, particularly near open space where coyotes travel. Foxes and coyotes are not pets and should not be approached.

Why this matters: a calm, hands-off approach keeps wildlife wild and keeps your household and your animals safe.

For city wildlife guidance, see Denver Parks and Recreation, and for living with foxes and coyotes, see Colorado Parks and Wildlife.