Forest Ridge Homeowners Association consists of 146 acres subdivided into 38 lots, of which 31 are developed. Forest Ridge sits along the northern ridge of Deer Creek Valley (elevation 8,800 to 9,500 feet above sea level), where it abuts the Mount Evans Wilderness in Pike National Forest about 15 miles from the Continental Divide, on the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains.
The Colorado Department of Parks & Wildlife furnished this pic of a bighorn that was found dead in Forest Ridge HOA. Someone poisoned him to death by feeding him corn. Please click here to see an image from the necropsy.Feeding big game is bad for animals and dangerous for people, for many reasons.
Deer, elk, bighorn sheep and other ungulates are all ruminants — they have complex digestive systems composed of a four-chambered stomach. These animals digest plant-based food through fermentation in their specialized stomachs. Wildlife is well adapted to feed on natural food sources; but food provided by people, such as alfalfa, hay or corn, can kill big game animals.
Every winter wildlife officers around the state pick up many deer, elk, and sheep that died as a result of artificial food sources. Ruminants that ingest grain, corn, or other high carbohydrate foods can develop lactic acidosis or enterotoxaemia. These two conditions are common in ruminants in areas where they are being fed food by people. These two conditions are fatal, usually within 24–72 hours from the time the animal ingests the grain.
Ruminants can develop some tolerance to grain and corn over time, but feeding wildlife has other biological consequences. Salt and mineral blocks, corn, and grain cause animals to gather in close proximity which facilitates disease transmission. Chronic Wasting Disease in deer, elk and moose, as well as pneumonia in sheep can result. These diseases are usually fatal, but take time to develop; consequently, the people feeding wildlife often don’t see the negative consequence of their actions.
These are several good reasons for the public not to feed any wild animal. The best thing people can do for wildlife is to ensure access to habitat where they can find their natural diet.
To report incidents of feeding or other illegal wildlife activity contact a local Colorado Parks and Wildlife office or officer. If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Operation Game Thief at (877) 265-6648. Rewards may be offered if the information leads to a citation.
Thanks for your cooperation!
Respect our wildlife!
Big game animals can die if fed the wrong food. Corn, alfalfa, pet food, and human foods are all harmful.
Big game animals that are fed can become demanding and dangerous.
Feeding deer, elk and bighorn sheep attracts mountain lions to your property.
Feeding big game can concentrate them in an area and lead to the spread of disease including CWO.
Feeding big game is illegal.
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Original document published by the Colorado Department of Parks & Wildlife here.
Mountain Road Driving
Royal Ridge Drive constitutes Forest Ridge’s largest Common Area, both in terms of its size and cost to maintain. Indeed, maintenance of our roads — especially Royal Ridge Drive — is our greatest expense and consumes over 80% of our annual budget.
Any vehicle operated in excess of the posted 20-mph speed limit accelerates the erosion or our road and causes more wash-boarding — thereby raising costs for the entire HOA. Royal Ridge Drive is not designated for recreational use, which means that it does not exist for ATVs or other off-road vehicles. This is one reason why section 9.9 of the Forest Ridge CC&Rs states:
If an Owner, who by negligent or willful act, causes damage to the Common Area or other Properties, which are insured as a Common Expense, then the Owner shall bear the whole cost of the deductible required in the blanket insurance policy for the Association on the Common Area and other such Properties. An Owner shall be responsible for any action of members of his/her family, his/her tenants or his/her guests which cause damage to the Common Road or other Properties.
No activities shall be conducted on any Unit, Common Area, and no Improvements shall be constructed on any Unit, Common Area, or which are or might be unsafe or hazardous to any person or property.
Speeding is both unsafe and hazardous to the person who speeds as well as anyone whom they may encounter.
Our roads have been built and are maintained for the essential purpose of getting our members to and from their properties. They are only mountain roads — dirt roads. Please help us maintain them to the highest extent possible. Please don’t speed. And please consider your neighbors.
