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Deadline for comments on regional mountain trails
OK, folks — we have through Monday May 20 to submit suggestions about what we’d like to see in a regional trail network that connects western Boulder County’s mountain and foothills communities.
Local, state and federal land management agencies are working on a planning effort for possible future links to existing trails systems.
Come on, equestrians! Let’s make our voices heard :)
To submit comments, visit www.regionalmountaintrails.com.
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OSMP and BCPOS Trails have reopened after the Mud
To our knowledge all trails at Heil Valley Ranch and South Boulder Open Space have been reopened since the amazing wet spring made a muddy mess.
Enjoy it out there, and happy trails!
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Rabies Positive Horse in NE Colorado
A horse near Peetz, CO has been diagnosed as being positive for rabies by CSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. The horse had been exhibiting neurological clinical signs, the attending veterinarian suspected rabies, euthanized the horse, and submitted samples for testing.
There has been a significant increase in the incidence of rabies over the last five years in Colorado. This rabies-positive equine case points out the need to consider rabies as a possible etiology in all neurological cases. The predominant terrestrial animal which acts as a vector for rabies is the skunk but other wildlife species that can carry and transmit the rabies virus are bats, raccoons, and foxes. There are many excellent rabies resources and rabid animal data on the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment’s webpage at: http://www.colorado.gov/cdphe/rabies
Colorado Department of Agriculture Field Veterinarian, Dr. Ken Neuens, stresses to veterinarians, “using personal protection during the physical exam of horses is really important, especially around the mouth. With EHV-1 and rabies fairly common now, and with drought conditions making poisonous plant ingestion more likely down the road, keep a wide differential list when called to any neuro case in any species, but protect yourselves as if every case was rabies. Initially rabid horses can exhibit clinical signs of colic so an open mind and good client communication is important on the initial exam.”
This recent case of rabies in a horse highlights the importance to inform and recommend that owners not only vaccinate their dogs and cats but also other animals that could be exposed to wildlife that carry and transmit the rabies virus. This includes horses, small ruminants, llamas, alpacas, petting zoo animals, and possibly other valuable livestock. Many rabies cases that involve livestock results in numerous people having to take post exposure prophylaxis; this is also true in this latest rabies-positive horse. Considering the current incidence of wildlife rabies, the lethal outcome of the disease, and the cost and liability when people have been exposed to a possibly rabid animal, the benefits of vaccinating animals for rabies certainly outweigh other potential reasons for not vaccinating for rabies.
The Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, 2011 recommends that “All horses should be vaccinated against rabies. Livestock, including species for which licensed vaccines are not available, that have frequent contact with humans (e.g., in petting zoos, fairs, and other public exhibitions) should be vaccinated against rabies. Consideration should also be given to vaccinating livestock that are particularly valuable.” The Compendium also has a listing of approved vaccines for the different species and a recommended vaccination schedule, available at http://www.nasphv.org/Documents/RabiesCompendium.pdf
For those species of animals in which there are no licensed vaccines, consult with practicing veterinarians or university veterinarians who have had experience in those particular species. Concerning the rabies vaccination of camelids, CSU Veterinary Extension has a fact sheet that addresses vaccine and appropriate dose; it can be found at this link:
http://veterinaryextension.colostate.edu/menu2/camelids/2010 Rabies Poster CSU VTH.pdf
Dr. Mary Smith at Cornell University recommends using IMRAB Large Animal at 2cc per head in species for which there is no licensed or labeled rabies vaccine because it is a killed product that is licensed and labeled for more large animal species than other rabies vaccines. Continue reading
Announcing the BATCO Photo Contest!
Greetings Boulder County Horse Association,
On behalf of the Boulder Area Trails Coalition (BATCO), I want to invite you to take part in a photo contest that our group is running. We are a 501(c) 3 organization that supports the creation and maintenance of multi-use trails throughout Boulder County. We are working on the next version of our popular Trails & Recreation Map of Boulder County. As part of this effort, we are holding a photo contest for photos that will be included on the reverse side of the map and first prize is a $100 gift certificate to local outdoors merchant. We would love to see pictures of people partaking in all of the different activities that are afforded by our great trail system: hiking, running, horseback riding, biking, walking your dog, nature and bird watching, cross country skiing, etc. The deadline for photo submissions is May 5. Get all of the details at:
http://t.co/49g9EhekpQ
And, if you are so inclined, please signup for our organization’s newsletter at http://www.bouldertrails.org.
See you on the trails,
David Blankinship
President
Boulder Area Trails Coalition
president@bouldertrails.org
http://www.bouldertrails.org
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Caribou Ranch to Close April 1
Annual spring closure of Caribou Ranch begins April 1 Boulder County, Colo. – The annual spring closure of Caribou Ranch Open Space will begin April 1 and last through June 30. The closure is to protect spring migratory birds andContinue reading …