DNS Nature Studies Data summary
Durango Nature Studies (DNS) has been bringing hands on, nature
education since 1994. They teach throughout the four corners, and all of their
programs conform to national state and local education standards. DNS has two
locations in and near Durango Colorado. One of their locations which represent
DNS’s main office is located on 1309 E. Third Ave, #27 Durango, Colorado. The
second location of DNS is their outdoor location off of US Highway 550, below
Bondad hill. On the DNS property
there are several main features that have made DNS so popular and successful
since 1994. The main feature is the 140 acre Durango Nature Center, which
includes highly accessible paths, a pond, the Florida River, which runs the
length of the property. They also have a rest area with benches and tables.
In recent years, bullfrogs have been spotted on the DNS
property. Bullfrogs have been
classified as an invasive species in Colorado and are outcompeting with the
Native Leopard Frogs, by taking their mating grounds, eating their food, and
killing them along with other small mammals in the area. Bluegill fish are also
harmful towards Leopard Frogs. They eat the same food as the Leopard Frogs, and
they can eat the baby Leopard Frogs who cannot defend themselves yet. Bullfrogs
have yet to become a large problem in Colorado, and are being monitored for any
signs of population outbreaks. Invasive species are a concern because they push
out the native species, and destroy the natural environment by overwhelming it
with growth. Invasive species also create a large amount of destruction in
agriculture, with water being one of the main sources of travel for them.
The official status of the leopard frog in Colorado is a species
of special concern. There has been
recent petition to add leopard frogs to the Colorado Endangered Species
List. ‘12-Month
Finding on Petition to List the Western Population of the Northern Leopard Frog’
Leopard frogs have a diet of mostly invertebrates but have been
known to also eat small mammals. They typically live in slow moving, still or
non-turbulent water; stream, ponds, lakes, swamps, marshes etc. Leopard Frogs
are born as eggs in groups of 300+. If they make it past that stage, they
develop into tadpoles and live 1-3 years until fully developing into frogs. At
that point they find a mate, and continue to develop until they die of old age
(1-4 year life span) or they are eaten.
Bullfrogs have a diet of everything from invertebrates to small
rodents. They typically live in ponds, lakes, streams, swamps, marshes and
irrigation ditches. Bullfrogs are born as eggs and quickly develop into tadpoles
and can grow up to 8 inches before developing into frogs(1-3 years). Once fully
grown their life is simple; eat as much as you can and mate. The typical life
expectancy of a fully developed Bullfrog is 4-7 years.
Durango Nature Studies (DNS) has been bringing hands on, nature
education since 1994. They teach throughout the four corners, and all of their
programs conform to national state and local education standards. DNS has two
locations in and near Durango Colorado. One of their locations which represent
DNS’s main office is located on 1309 E. Third Ave, #27 Durango, Colorado. The
second location of DNS is their outdoor location off of US Highway 550, below
Bondad hill. On the DNS property
there are several main features that have made DNS so popular and successful
since 1994. The main feature is the 140 acre Durango Nature Center, which
includes highly accessible paths, a pond, the Florida River, which runs the
length of the property. They also have a rest area with benches and tables.
In recent years, bullfrogs have been spotted on the DNS
property. Bullfrogs have been
classified as an invasive species in Colorado and are outcompeting with the
Native Leopard Frogs, by taking their mating grounds, eating their food, and
killing them along with other small mammals in the area. Bluegill fish are also
harmful towards Leopard Frogs. They eat the same food as the Leopard Frogs, and
they can eat the baby Leopard Frogs who cannot defend themselves yet. Bullfrogs
have yet to become a large problem in Colorado, and are being monitored for any
signs of population outbreaks. Invasive species are a concern because they push
out the native species, and destroy the natural environment by overwhelming it
with growth. Invasive species also create a large amount of destruction in
agriculture, with water being one of the main sources of travel for them.
The official status of the leopard frog in Colorado is a species
of special concern. There has been
recent petition to add leopard frogs to the Colorado Endangered Species
List. ‘12-Month
Finding on Petition to List the Western Population of the Northern Leopard Frog’
Leopard frogs have a diet of mostly invertebrates but have been
known to also eat small mammals. They typically live in slow moving, still or
non-turbulent water; stream, ponds, lakes, swamps, marshes etc. Leopard Frogs
are born as eggs in groups of 300+. If they make it past that stage, they
develop into tadpoles and live 1-3 years until fully developing into frogs. At
that point they find a mate, and continue to develop until they die of old age
(1-4 year life span) or they are eaten.
Bullfrogs have a diet of everything from invertebrates to small
rodents. They typically live in ponds, lakes, streams, swamps, marshes and
irrigation ditches. Bullfrogs are born as eggs and quickly develop into tadpoles
and can grow up to 8 inches before developing into frogs(1-3 years). Once fully
grown their life is simple; eat as much as you can and mate. The typical life
expectancy of a fully developed Bullfrog is 4-7 years.
Aversive Conditioning
Aversive
conditioning for bears will occur in the Durango City
limits.
The
goal of adverse conditioning is to make it so the bears to not want to re-enter
residential neighborhoods. (Dolson 2012)
Adverse
conditioning will be done homeowners in the selected neighborhoods, that has
reoccurring Human-Bear conflicts. But if the problem persists, the DOW will be
called in to take further action using more force than homeowners are allowed to
do.
We
also offer the option for a “aversive conditioning packages” given to homeowners
upon request – that includes, air horns, bear spray & info from the division
of wildlife about when and how to aversively condition on your own and when to
call in the DOW. Could the second
part of your plan be the next step – the Divisions Response to problem bears.
(No Author 2012)
The
first of the adverse conditioning will occur in North-East Durango, starting on
August 1st and going until December 1st. These dates have
been chosen by the high number of Human-Bear conflicts reported during those
months. (Colvin 1976)
An
effort of fifteen homeowners will be dedicated to aversive conditioning. The
adverse conditioning is expected to take a minimum of 17-19 days, with fully
committed participants and 23-26 days minimum with less committed participants.
(Akhtar 2006)
Aversive
conditioning will occur annually the Human-Bear conflict is lessoned. At that
point and estimate will be given to other homeowners interested in adverse
conditioning at their homes. (Dorrance 1978)
The main benefits of this plan are that Humans and Bears can be
temporarily separated without any major conflicts or harm done to either side.
This creates a safer environment for the bears by removing them, and taking
trash out of their diet. And for us, it removes the bear creating a safer
environment for our families.
The cons of the plan are; if the participants/homeowners are not
consistent with the adverse conditioning the plan will only angers the bears and
make them more volatile to conflict.
Trashcan Replacement
Trashcan
replacement will occur on the west side of the Animas River, from
32nd to 21st East 32nd(see attached map) Street.
The
goal of trashcan replacement is to minimize the risk of bears becoming
habituated to people. (No Name 2012)
Trashcan
replacement will be done by the City of
Durango.
Trashcan
replacement will start on June 1st 2013 and go until August
1st 2013, so that home
owners can be prepared for the fall 2013 season when the bears are most active
and are preparing for hibernation. (Calvert
1992)
With
a minimum of 200 hours of trashcan replacement, each employee will remove and
replace 20 trashcans a week.
Homeowners
also have the option of coming in and replacing their trashcan if they feel
inclined to do so.
Trashcan
replacement will occur annually until all trashcans on the east and west side of
the Animas River, are replaced. Starting at 32nd and going all the
way down to 1ststreet. The overall project is expected to take 5
years minimum (Bromley 2012)
The
money for the plan will be added to each homeowner’s monthly fee (trash removal,
recycling, spring and fall pickup, and street sweeping and repair).
The benefits of this plan are that bears will no longer go into
town in search of food and the bears will not be habituated to consume trash.
(Flowers 1986)
Some of the major cons of this plan are the cost of each
trashcan being replaced, and the man hours required for the replacement. (Bear
Saver 2012)
Bear Relocation
Bear
relocation will occur in the San Juan Mountain range (see attached
map).
The
goal or relocation is to capture the bear, and release it in a safer and more
suitable environment, away from any Human-Bear conflicts. (Clark
2002)
Bear
relocation will be done Colorado Parks and Wildlife. (Bishop
2012)
The
decision to move a bear will be made, upon the repetitive nuisances of a
particular bear. (Dolson 2012)
Bear
relocation will take place starting on August 3rd, and go through
November 10th, to give the bears more time to prepare for hibernation
at their new location, 60 miles away in the San Juan
Mountains.
An
effort of over 1000 hours will be dedicated to bear relocation, with the help of
30 volunteers. A minimum of 30 bears will be removed from residential areas in
and around Durango, CO.
Bear
relocation will occur annually during the same months, until the Human-Bear
conflict is drastically improved or completely stopped. (Chi
1998)
The benefits of this plan are; quick and affective, stops that
individual bear from being a nuisance. Helps create a safe and healthy
environment for both the humans and bears. (G.L.
1977)
The cons of this plan are; cost, if the area the bear is moved
to is food deficient, then there is a possibility that the bear will find a way
back into town.
Aversive
conditioning for bears will occur in the Durango City
limits.
The
goal of adverse conditioning is to make it so the bears to not want to re-enter
residential neighborhoods. (Dolson 2012)
Adverse
conditioning will be done homeowners in the selected neighborhoods, that has
reoccurring Human-Bear conflicts. But if the problem persists, the DOW will be
called in to take further action using more force than homeowners are allowed to
do.
We
also offer the option for a “aversive conditioning packages” given to homeowners
upon request – that includes, air horns, bear spray & info from the division
of wildlife about when and how to aversively condition on your own and when to
call in the DOW. Could the second
part of your plan be the next step – the Divisions Response to problem bears.
(No Author 2012)
The
first of the adverse conditioning will occur in North-East Durango, starting on
August 1st and going until December 1st. These dates have
been chosen by the high number of Human-Bear conflicts reported during those
months. (Colvin 1976)
An
effort of fifteen homeowners will be dedicated to aversive conditioning. The
adverse conditioning is expected to take a minimum of 17-19 days, with fully
committed participants and 23-26 days minimum with less committed participants.
(Akhtar 2006)
Aversive
conditioning will occur annually the Human-Bear conflict is lessoned. At that
point and estimate will be given to other homeowners interested in adverse
conditioning at their homes. (Dorrance 1978)
The main benefits of this plan are that Humans and Bears can be
temporarily separated without any major conflicts or harm done to either side.
This creates a safer environment for the bears by removing them, and taking
trash out of their diet. And for us, it removes the bear creating a safer
environment for our families.
The cons of the plan are; if the participants/homeowners are not
consistent with the adverse conditioning the plan will only angers the bears and
make them more volatile to conflict.
Trashcan Replacement
Trashcan
replacement will occur on the west side of the Animas River, from
32nd to 21st East 32nd(see attached map) Street.
The
goal of trashcan replacement is to minimize the risk of bears becoming
habituated to people. (No Name 2012)
Trashcan
replacement will be done by the City of
Durango.
Trashcan
replacement will start on June 1st 2013 and go until August
1st 2013, so that home
owners can be prepared for the fall 2013 season when the bears are most active
and are preparing for hibernation. (Calvert
1992)
With
a minimum of 200 hours of trashcan replacement, each employee will remove and
replace 20 trashcans a week.
Homeowners
also have the option of coming in and replacing their trashcan if they feel
inclined to do so.
Trashcan
replacement will occur annually until all trashcans on the east and west side of
the Animas River, are replaced. Starting at 32nd and going all the
way down to 1ststreet. The overall project is expected to take 5
years minimum (Bromley 2012)
The
money for the plan will be added to each homeowner’s monthly fee (trash removal,
recycling, spring and fall pickup, and street sweeping and repair).
The benefits of this plan are that bears will no longer go into
town in search of food and the bears will not be habituated to consume trash.
(Flowers 1986)
Some of the major cons of this plan are the cost of each
trashcan being replaced, and the man hours required for the replacement. (Bear
Saver 2012)
Bear Relocation
Bear
relocation will occur in the San Juan Mountain range (see attached
map).
The
goal or relocation is to capture the bear, and release it in a safer and more
suitable environment, away from any Human-Bear conflicts. (Clark
2002)
Bear
relocation will be done Colorado Parks and Wildlife. (Bishop
2012)
The
decision to move a bear will be made, upon the repetitive nuisances of a
particular bear. (Dolson 2012)
Bear
relocation will take place starting on August 3rd, and go through
November 10th, to give the bears more time to prepare for hibernation
at their new location, 60 miles away in the San Juan
Mountains.
An
effort of over 1000 hours will be dedicated to bear relocation, with the help of
30 volunteers. A minimum of 30 bears will be removed from residential areas in
and around Durango, CO.
Bear
relocation will occur annually during the same months, until the Human-Bear
conflict is drastically improved or completely stopped. (Chi
1998)
The benefits of this plan are; quick and affective, stops that
individual bear from being a nuisance. Helps create a safe and healthy
environment for both the humans and bears. (G.L.
1977)
The cons of this plan are; cost, if the area the bear is moved
to is food deficient, then there is a possibility that the bear will find a way
back into town.
Crime Scene Investigation Project
In this project we went over many of the processes
involved in solving a crime. Some of these processes include; blood typing,
fingerprint fuming, trajectory of projectile, blood splatter and DNA analysis.
In the lab we had to find out how Aaron Lee really died and whether or not it
was a suicide, as suspected.
I though the most positive part of this project was
finally getting the results of our tests and putting the pieces together to form
a timeline of the crime. Then figuring out who it was and presenting out
projects to the community.
If I could do this project again, I would take more time
making my poster board so it looks more aesthetically pleasing. I would also
choose to work on my own so I am not reliant on another person to do a good job
and to be proficient.
involved in solving a crime. Some of these processes include; blood typing,
fingerprint fuming, trajectory of projectile, blood splatter and DNA analysis.
In the lab we had to find out how Aaron Lee really died and whether or not it
was a suicide, as suspected.
I though the most positive part of this project was
finally getting the results of our tests and putting the pieces together to form
a timeline of the crime. Then figuring out who it was and presenting out
projects to the community.
If I could do this project again, I would take more time
making my poster board so it looks more aesthetically pleasing. I would also
choose to work on my own so I am not reliant on another person to do a good job
and to be proficient.