Mold Remediation in Boulder, CO

First Human Case of Tularemia Confirmed in Boulder County in 2024

Seguido en Español

Boulder County, Colo. —A human case of tularemia has been identified in Boulder County, marking the first reported case this year. The person affected resides near Boulder and began experiencing fever symptoms on Oct. 2. These progressed to altered mental status and fluid in the lungs. The individual has been diagnosed with pneumonic tularemia, a rare respiratory form of the disease.

The individual reported contact with a cat and dog during their exposure period, though neither animal has shown signs of illness. The individual could not confirm a recent insect bite, though this remains a possible source of infection.

Public health officials will post warning signs in the area to alert residents of tularemia risks and encourage precautions to prevent infection. People can contract tularemia through bites from infected insects, most commonly ticks and deer flies, or contact with infected animal tissues. The bacteria can also be inhaled if infected animal particles become airborne.

“It’s essential to take precautions around wild animals and avoid contact, as tularemia, while rare, poses serious health risks,” said Carly Wilson, Boulder County Public Health Vector Epidemiologist/Environmental Health Specialist. “If you develop a fever and know tularemia has been found in your area, or if you think you may have been exposed, be sure to mention it to your healthcare provider.”

Tularemia is caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis, commonly found in wild animals, particularly rodents, rabbits and hares. Symptoms can vary but often include fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes and respiratory symptoms that may resemble cold or flu-like illness.

Public health officials recommend the following precautions:

• Avoid areas frequented by wild rabbits and rodents. If you do enter such areas, use insect repellent containing DEET.

• Prevent pets from hunting or consuming wild animals.

• Avoid contact with wild rabbits and rodents, including squirrels; do not feed or handle them.

• Do not touch sick or dead animals with bare hands. Use a long-handled shovel and garbage bag to dispose of animals, placing the bag in an outdoor trash can.

• Avoid drinking untreated water from streams or lakes.

• Refrain from mowing over animal carcasses, and consider wearing a dust mask when landscaping.

• Avoid tick exposure; keep pets, especially cats, indoors or away from tick-prone areas.

• Seek medical care if you experience high fever and/or swollen lymph nodes.

• Consult a veterinarian if your pet shows signs of illness with a high fever or swollen lymph nodes.

For more information on tularemia, visit www.cdc.gov/tularemia or www.boco.org/Tularemia, or contact Boulder County Public Health at 303-441-1564. To report a rabbit die-off, please call 303-441-1564.

En Español

Se confirma el primer caso humano de tularemia en el Condado de Boulder en 2024

Condado de Boulder, Colo. —Se ha identificado un caso humano de tularemia en el Condado de Boulder, lo que marca el primer caso reportado este año. La persona afectada reside cerca de la ciudad de Boulder y comenzó a experimentar síntomas de fiebre el 2 de octubre. Estos progresaron a un estado mental alterado y líquido en los pulmones. Se le ha diagnosticado tularemia neumónica, una forma respiratoria rara de la enfermedad.

La persona informó haber tenido contacto con un gato y un perro durante su período de exposición, aunque ninguno de los animales ha mostrado signos de enfermedad. La persona no pudo confirmar una picadura de insecto reciente, aunque esta sigue siendo una posible fuente de infección.

Los funcionarios de salud pública colocarán carteles de advertencia en el área para alertar a los residentes sobre los riesgos de tularemia y alentarlos a tomar precauciones para prevenir la infección. Las personas pueden contraer tularemia a través de picaduras de insectos infectados, más comúnmente garrapatas y tábanos, o por contacto con tejidos animales infectados. La bacteria también puede inhalarse si las partículas animales infectadas se transmiten por el aire.

“Es esencial tomar precauciones cerca de animales salvajes y evitar el contacto, ya que la tularemia, aunque es poco común, plantea graves riesgos para la salud”, dijo Carly Wilson, epidemióloga de vectores de Salud Pública del Condado de Boulder y especialista en salud ambiental. “Si tiene fiebre y sabe que se ha detectado tularemia en su área, o si cree que puede haber estado expuesto, asegúrese de mencionarlo a su proveedor de atención médica”.

La tularemia es causada por la bacteria Francisella tularensis, que se encuentra comúnmente en animales salvajes, en particular roedores, conejos y liebres. Los síntomas pueden variar, pero a menudo incluyen fiebre, escalofríos, ganglios linfáticos inflamados y síntomas respiratorios que pueden parecerse a una enfermedad similar a la gripe o el resfriado.

Los funcionarios de salud pública recomiendan las siguientes precauciones:

• Evite las áreas frecuentadas por conejos y roedores salvajes. Si ingresa a dichas áreas, use repelente de insectos que contenga DEET.

• Evite que las mascotas cacen o consuman animales salvajes.

• Evite el contacto con conejos y roedores salvajes, incluidas las ardillas; no los alimente ni los manipule.

• No toque animales enfermos o muertos con las manos descubiertas. Use una pala de mango largo y una bolsa de basura para deshacerse de los animales, colocando la bolsa en un basurero al aire libre.

• Evite beber agua no tratada de arroyos o lagos.

• Absténgase de cortar el césped sobre cadáveres de animales y considere usar una máscara antipolvo cuando trabaje en el jardín.

• Evite la exposición a las garrapatas; mantenga a las mascotas, especialmente a los gatos, en el interior o lejos de áreas propensas a las garrapatas.

• Busque atención médica si tiene fiebre alta y/o ganglios linfáticos inflamados.

• Consulte a un veterinario si su mascota muestra signos de enfermedad con fiebre alta o ganglios linfáticos inflamados.

Para obtener más información sobre la tularemia, visite www.cdc.gov/tularemia o www.boco.org/Tularemia, o comuníquese con Salud Pública del Condado de Boulder al 303-441-1564. Para informar sobre la muerte de un conejo, llame al 303-441-1564.

As Halloween approaches, families and thrill-seekers alike are gearing up for a night of delightful frights and delectable sweets. In the picturesque city of Boulder, Colorado, the Halloween spirit comes alive with an array of charming neighborhoods and lively streets that offer the perfect setting for a spooktacular trick-or-treating experience. Whether you’re a local resident or visiting from out of town, Boulder boasts some of the best places to go trick-or-treating, ensuring an unforgettable Halloween adventure for all.

Boulder, Colorado is renowned for its enchanting neighborhoods that transform into veritable wonderlands during the Halloween season. One such neighborhood is the historic Mapleton Hill, where the streets are lined with elegant Victorian homes adorned with eerie yet captivating decorations. As dusk descends, the soft glow of jack-o’-lanterns and the rustle of fallen leaves create an enchanting ambiance, making it a must-visit spot for trick-or-treaters of all ages.

Mapleton Hill

Another bewitching locale is the Whittier neighborhood, where the community comes together to create a spirited atmosphere that is as heartwarming as it is spine-tingling. Here, you’ll find elaborately themed houses, friendly residents handing out treats, and a sense of camaraderie that embodies the true spirit of Halloween.

For those seeking a thrill-filled adventure, Boulder offers several haunted hotspots that promise an exhilarating trick-or-treating experience. The Pearl Street Mall, known for its vibrant shops and lively atmosphere, undergoes a ghoulish transformation during Halloween. Families can wander along the pedestrian-friendly mall, where costumed characters and street performers add to the festive ambiance, while local businesses generously dole out an assortment of sweets and treats to eager trick-or-treaters.

Additionally, the University Hill neighborhood, with its storied history and spirited student population, becomes a haunted haven on Halloween night. The lively energy of the university community, combined with creatively adorned houses and an abundance of candy, makes this area a prime destination for those in search of spine-tingling fun.

Pearl Street Mall

In addition to the enchanting neighborhoods and haunted hotspots, Boulder hosts a variety of community celebrations that offer a delightful twist on traditional trick-or-treating. The annual Munchkin Masquerade, held in the enchanting downtown area, invites families to dress up in their finest costumes and partake in a merry parade of trick-or-treating at local businesses. The event fosters a sense of community spirit while providing a safe and enjoyable environment for children to collect treats.

With its enchanting neighborhoods, haunted hotspots, and vibrant community celebrations, Boulder, Colorado stands as one of the best places in the country to go trick-or-treating. Whether you’re drawn to the historic charm of Mapleton Hill, the electrifying energy of Pearl Street Mall, or the community-centric events, Boulder offers an array of options for a Halloween adventure that is sure to leave you spellbound.

If you’re going to be an urban baby owl hatched onto this Earth to help bring back your threatened species, the city of Boulder’s Open Space is a good place to be.

Boulder County’s Parks and Open Space system, with its 100,000-plus acres, canyon trails and broad foothills vistas, may get more attention.

But the city of Boulder has also spent years helping to bring back native grasslands around the edges of the city, while supporting breeding bird populations at places like Gunbarrel Hill. And when baby burrowing owls poke their adorable heads out of the prairie dog holes their parents took over for housing, Boulder wildlife officials scramble to protect them.

Burrowing owls are on Colorado’s state threatened species list, so city wildlife specialists keep a lookout on prairie dog holes each spring for telltale signs of owlets — with their trademark yellow eyes and unusual-for-owls daytime feeding habits.

After consistent years of successful burrowing owl launches, Boulder wildlife experts hadn’t seen any this year. Then they turned up in an awkward spot: Workers putting the final vegetation touches on a new stretch of the Vesper Trail at Gunbarrel Hill south of Lookout Road saw owlets just off the unopened trail. Biologists went to scope out the owlets, and found another burrowing pair with more owlets a little farther off the trail. Two pairs along the trail were great news.

Plans for a summer grand opening for Vesper Trail screech-owled to a halt. Boulder is a good place to ask for wildlife-friendly patience from eager hikers, city ecologist Victoria “Tory” Poulton said.

Hold those dogs, too, Boulder said.

“Dogs even on a leash can be a real hazard to owls and especially the young, when they’re still learning to fly, and detect and get away from threats,” Poulton said.

Open space officials put off the trail opening from early June to just now, and the delay helped the owl parents successfully fledge eight young from their underground abodes. Boulder has a master plan in place to deemphasize the informal trails that have cropped up among frequent park users, steering people toward wildlife-respecting trails like the new Vespers section. Providing bigger blocks of undisturbed land, even inside an already-protected park boundary, is one key to promoting wildlife conservation.

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The day-hunting burrowers are migratory, so this is the time of year the young ones join their parents on flights to Texas or Mexico, Poulton said. In spring, they tend to look for new space close to where they were hatched.

“So if we’re lucky, we’ll have some of those come back,” she said. “And then our expectation for next year, with the trail open, is that they will decide to not nest right there but move to other parts of the property, where there’s a bigger block of habitat away from disturbance.”

Type of Story: News

Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.

Michael BoothEnvironment Reporter

booth@coloradosun.com

Michael Booth is The Sun’s environment writer, and co-author of The Sun’s weekly climate and health newsletter The Temperature. He and John Ingold host the weekly SunUp podcast on The Temperature topics every Thursday. He is co-author... More by Michael Booth

Whether you are voting in Colorado or your home state, make a plan to vote today! Colorado does not have a voter registration deadline—you may register to vote and vote up to and including Election Day.

Quick tips

Nov. 5 is Election Day! You may register to vote and vote up to and including Election Day. Vote by 7 p.m. at a vote center on campus.

Ballot dropboxes: Utilize any official ballot dropbox in Colorado or the two on CU’s campus.

Learn More About Voting

Voting in person

Register to vote, vote, request a replacement ballot or use ballot-to-go.

Returning your mail ballot

Colorado voters can return their mail ballot to any official ballot dropbox in Colorado, including Boulder County’s ballot dropboxes. Ballots must be dropped in a ballot box by 7 p.m. on Nov. 5. Voters may also drop off their ballot at a vote center.

CU Boulder dropbox locations:

Find additional Boulder County locations or additional statewide locations.

Free rides to the polls on Election Day

Get to the polls for free on Nov. 5! RTD, Lime and BCycle are offering free rides to help you cast your ballot:

Students from another Colorado county

Students have options for where to register to vote and may wish to register to vote in Boulder County. Visit the Student Voting Guideline page for more information. Anyone may register to vote or make updates to their voter registration and vote up to and including Election Day.

If students remain registered at their home county, they will need to travel to that county to vote if they did not request a mail ballot sent to be sent to their Boulder address; or they can choose to vote a statewide ballot (president, statewide ballot issues, etc.).

If students want to remain registered at their home address in another Colorado county but missed the deadline to request a mail ballot be sent to their local address, they may vote in the UMC/Williams Village but will only have statewide races on their ballot and not see any local races—Boulder County Elections cannot print a ballot that contains local races for other counties.

Out-of-state students

You have the option of voting in Boulder County or your home state (absentee ballot deadlines in other states). To vote in Boulder County, you may register and vote in person at the vote center in the UMC using your Buff OneCard. If you have an out-of-state ballot, please make sure to return your ballot in time to your home state. Or better yet, contact your home county elections office.

Questions? Never hesitate to ask! Call 303-413-7740, email vote@bouldercounty.gov, or find us on social media (Boulder County Clerk / Elections).

Election tours

Boulder County Elections is hosting student-geared ballot processing tours! Tours take about 30–45 minutes depending on questions. Tour attendees get to see the journey of a ballot, how signatures on mail ballots are verified, all the steps in place to maintain accuracy and security, and how Boulder County Elections keeps everyone’s vote anonymous. Find dates and times and RSVP.

Can’t make a tour? Check out their YouTube channel for a virtual ballot processing tour, security videos and more.

Editor’s note: All candidate Q&A information comes from the candidates themselves and was not independently checked. It was edited for length, grammar and spelling. Every effort was made to give equal space to all candidates. Candidates who did not respond are noted.

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If you’re registered to vote in Boulder County, you should see your ballot soon, if you don’t have it already. County officials said they started mailing ballots on Friday . Election Day this year is Tuesday, Nov. 5, and you must return your mail ballot or be in line at a Voter Service Center before 7 p.m. that day for your vote to count.

Whether or not you’re registered to vote, you can find out everything you need to know at Vote Centers (formerly called Voter Service and Polling Centers) around the county. Many of them will open on Monday, Oct. 21, and representatives staffing them give you the chance to vote in person; vote in person in Spanish; request a replacement ballot; drop off your ballot; and register to vote or update your registration information. To vote, you must have a current piece of identification with your picture on it – people most commonly use their Colorado driver’s licenses.

While voters can register right up to and on Election Day, the last day to register or change your registration and still receive a ballot in the mail is eight days before the election. If you register or change your registration after that date, you must vote in person.

You can track your mail ballot by signing up for Ballot Track at boulder.ballottrax.net/voter.

For more election information, visit:

HOW AND WHERE TO VOTE

24-hour ballot drop-off boxes open Oct. 11 and remain open through 7 p.m. on Nov. 5.

Open from Oct. 21 to Nov. 5

Open from Nov. 1 to 5

Open from Nov. 4 to 5

Open from Nov. 1 to 5

Open from Oct. 21 to Nov. 5

Open Nov. 1 to 5

Open from Oct. 21 to Nov. 5

Open Nov. 1 to 5

Open Nov. 4 to 5

Oct. 21 to Nov. 5

Nov. 4 to 5

Nov. 4 to 5

Nov. 4 to 5

If you’re registered to vote in Weld County, county officials say they started mailing ballots on Friday, so you should see your soon, if you don’t have it already. Election Day this year is Tuesday, Nov. 5, and you must return your mail ballot or be in line at a Voter Service and Polling Center before 7 p.m. that day for your vote to count.

24-hour ballot drop-off boxes: Oct. 11 through 7 p.m. Nov. 5, Election Day

Oct. 21 to Nov. 5

Nov. 1 to 5

Nov. 5

Voter service and polling centers Services include ballot-drop-off, voter registration, in-person voting, requesting mail-ballot replacements.

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