Limit ‘temptations’ that invite wild animals to visit

The balance between wildlife and civilization has always been delicate but never as much as during the summer months. Having grown up in wonderful, wild Wyoming, it is foreign language for me to hear panic over a bighorn sheep in the yard or a coyote running the road.

I grew up with a mother and baby moose in our yard, each year, for as far back as I can remember. I’ve picked berries in the company of a young black bear, shared the trail with a buffalo and spent a good part of each summer learning to distinguish elk tracks from antelope.

Wild animals are just that — wild (in layman terms, unpredictable). In most cases, wild animals are not fond of interactions with humans. They will tolerate some contact; however, no one can predict when they’ve had their limit. The sheep generally migrate to the park on Ville Drive for a few months a year. They appreciate the shade and green grass and meander into the nearby neighborhoods in search of a yummy window box snack or garden salad.

The tall grass along U.S. Highway 93 is a magnet and drivers from both directions report Yellowstone-type “sheep” jams. Doors open, motor running, camera-snapping citizens who just can’t resist a photo-op. Selfie sticks abound and brain cells appear lacking.

We also have two resident coyotes that have made Boulder City their home. They have physical injuries that limit foraging in the desert and they have found that residents leave food out, trash cans available and water accessible in almost unlimited amounts. Their need to hunt is satisfied by small animals running at large.

Nevada Department of Wildlife is the agency with authority over wild animals. They can be contacted at 702-486-5127 or 702-486-6742. In most cases they will not respond to wild animals in city limits. These animals are in their home territory and should not be disturbed or harassed.

Boulder City Police Department understands it can be concerning if you are out walking and encounter a coyote along the way. However, they are a solitary animal and will (most often) avoid human contact. There is very little our animal control officers can do when it comes to wild animals. Therefore, animal control usually does not respond unless the animals are putting people or pets into harm’s way.

When things such as a rattlesnake needs to be relocated, the sheep need to be redirected or the coyote just won’t leave a specific address, animal control can assist. The Nevada Department of Wildlife is trained and equipped for situations involving wild animals. Our animal control officers are primarily trained and equipped to handle domesticated animals.

Most importantly, it’s up to us — the humans — to make the effort to avoid enticing the wild ones to come and stay. Put pet food inside, keep lids on trash cans and don’t let small animals out unsupervised.

May 18. Grand theft: A pool pump is reported stolen during the early morning hours at 9:50 a.m. in the 300 block of Cats Eye Drive.

Solicit: Numerous calls about an alarm company soliciting sales claiming to have a direct line to the police department at 1:26 p.m. in the 1300 block of Monterey Drive.

Thought for the day: Thank goodness for closed-circuit television and no alarm monitoring at the police department.

May 19. Traffic: Officers redirect a driver going north in the southbound lanes at 3:19 a.m. in the area of U.S. Highway 93 and Veterans Memorial Drive.

Family disturbance: The couple has been drinking and now one party is locked out of the residence at 11:12 p.m. in the 700 block of Fifth Street.

Thought for the day: Parole and probation states the no-drinking stipulation isn’t optional so one subject goes from locked out to locked up.

May 20. Disabled vehicle: The boat and trailer are in the middle of the road and there is no vehicle in sight at 9:57 a.m. in the area of U.S. 93 and Ville Drive.

Disturbance: Who needs a restroom when you can just step out of the car and avail yourself of the parking lot at 11:20 a.m. in the 1600 block of Nevada Highway.

Thought for the day: It might end up cheaper to walk inside.

May 21. Grand theft: The caller reports daughter’s $800 scooter was stolen from in front of the church at 1:29 p.m. in the 500 block of Adams Boulevard.

Suspicious: An unkempt man is loitering around the ATM machine at 7:02 p.m. in the 1000 block of Nevada Way.

Thought for the day: I’m not sure about the karma thing but stealing from church ought to warrant a bad one.

May 22. Drunk: Caller reports a subject passed out in a parked vehicle at 7:05 a.m. in the 700 block of Fifth Street.

Animal: The caller found three kittens in a garbage can and has now found a box for them to be picked up at 8:34 p.m. in the 1300 block of Yucca Street.

Thought for the day: Speaking of karma …

May 23. Petty theft: The subject states his backpack of collectibles was taken at 12:53 a.m. in the 500 block of Fir Ave.

Hit and run: The vehicle takes out a water line and leaves the scene at 8:46 a.m. in the area of Lakeview Drive and Forest Lane.

Thought for the day: It’s hard to miss the plume of water now erupting from the scene.

May 24 Noise: The not-so-happy resident wants to initiate a complaint against the contractor who starts work before 6 a.m. at 8:14 a.m. in the 600 block of Avenue F.

Suspicious vehicle: The caller reports a man sitting in a parked vehicle for over two hours at 1:52 p.m. in the 1000 block of Walnut Drive.

Thought for the day: The young man advises he is de-stressing for finals by watching movies in his car.

Call of the week: The caller states a tire just came out of nowhere, damaged a sign and ended its roll in the traffic lane. A pickup arrives, retrieves the tire and leaves the area. Officers are able to locate the missing tire (with the helper) and the disabled vehicle that it came from and the two are reunited after making restitution arrangements for the damages at 12:30 p.m. May 20 in the 1200 block of Nevada Highway.

Tina Ransom is a dispatcher with Boulder City Police Department. She is coordinator of the Boulder City Citizen’s Academy.