Trail News Prescribed Burns and Birding

Prescribed Burns

From now until April 15, 2025, prescribed burns will be performed at Hall Ranch and the Ron Stewart Preserve at Rabbit Mountain. These burn operations only occur when there is sufficient snow on the ground to insure that operations will be safe and contained.

The Parks & Open Space Department and the Boulder County Sheriff's Office Wildland Fire Management Program monitors the soils to be sure sufficient moisture is present to ensure safety.

The public will be notified 24 hours in advance of these operations and updates will be posted via X/Twitter and Facebook.

Smoke and fire may be visible for 72 hours during the operation period. The public is discouraged from using the emergency 911 call lines which can result in needless swamping of this priority line. These fires are a normal procedure and do not represent an emergency.

Agricultural and ditch burns will also occur during this time.

The Boulder County Parks & Open Space Department describes the many benefits related to a prescribed burn, including:

• Reduces hazardous fuels, protecting human communities from extreme fires.

• Minimizes the spread of pest insects and disease.

• Removes unwanted species that threaten species native to an ecosystem.

• Provides habitat for foraging wildlife.

• Improves habitat for threatened and endangered species.

• Recycles nutrients back to the soil.

• Promotes the growth of trees, wildflowers, and other plants.

December Open Space Event

Saturday, Dec. 14, from 2-3:30 p.m., the Boulder County Parks & Open Space Department will present "Birding Boulder County Through the Seasons." The program will "explore where to find and how to identify some of our local and migratory birds and introduce you to an amazing range of ecosystems and habitats."

The presentation will be given by volunteer naturalists at the Louisville Public Library at 951 Spruce Street. Admission is free, but register to attend at EventBrite.