This is a FREE event, please click REGISTER to RSVP.

Doors open at 5:00pm

It’s no secret that Boulder County is home to some of the most diverse wildlife in all of Colorado. At least 59 mammal species, over 100 breeding bird species, more than 200 butterfly species, and countless reptiles, amphibians, and insects have been documented to date. Now that we know who some of our wild neighbors are, how can we better manage their habitats so these species can thrive?

The answer lies within our community: YOU can help us safeguard local wildlife! Join us on April 6 as the City of Boulder, Boulder County, and the WILD Foundation kick off Earth Month with the launch of our citizen science initiative on iNaturalist. With more people outside taking pictures, entering notes and geographic locations, and uploading to our iNaturalist project, each participant will assist open space employees by showing them what types of wild animal species are found right here in Boulder County. With your help, our land managers will have a stronger understanding of what these animals need in order to thrive in this unique ecosystem we call home.

Come by eTown Hall on April 6th and help us celebrate our wild Boulder!

- 5:00pm: Doors

- Appetizers will be provided, and a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase.

- 6:00pm: A series of short films will screen.

- 7:00pm: Dave Sutherland of Boulder OSMP, Deborah Price of Boulder County, and Melanie Hill of the WILD Foundation will announce the new iNaturalist citizen science project.

- 7:15pm: Mix and mingle! Break out into small groups and learn how to sign up for iNaturalist and join our citizen science initiative, visit with the organizations working to protect local wildlife, eat, drink, and be merry.

- 8:00: Go home with a fervor to become one of our top wildlife stewards.

City of Boulder

The City of Boulder is home to some of the most diverse wildlife areas in all of Colorado, providing critical habitat for a variety of species. Boulder is unique among Front Range cities due to the preservation of the mosaic of ecosystems that form the foothills backdrop. The city works across departments to preserve and protect the many species that call Boulder home while providing for world-class outdoor recreation. For more information, visit https://bouldercolorado.gov/osmp/wildlife-overview.

Boulder County

Boulder County Parks & Open Space, begun in 1975, protects over 100,000 acres of open space for wildlife protection, human recreation, and agricultural preservation. The department is staffed with wildlife biologists, botanists, planners, educators, agricultural specialists, historians, trails and grounds crews, and support staff to help ensure that these lands are protected today and into the future. Parks & Open Space also depends heavily on volunteers, who provide education for public and school programs, wildlife monitoring, trail building and other work projects, and more. For information, visit www.BoulderCountyOpenSpace.org.

WILD Foundation:

For over 40 years, the WILD Foundation has shaped the cutting edge of conservation, uniting groups behind an ethic of care and commitment for wild nature in order to facilitate collaborative action that results in impacts that far exceed our lean organizational structure. Nothing short of collective impact will put a dent in the ecological challenges confronting life on this planet. WILD’s expertise is in leveraging a reputation for integrity to forge enduring collaborations, igniting support for a common vision and bridging the institutional and cultural gaps that so often impede cooperation. www.wild.org

Other participating partners: