Castle Rock Offers Free Spring Wildlife and Birdwatching Programs in April, May

Four free wildlife education programs are coming to Castle Rock this spring, covering coyote safety, spring migration and songbird identification across a schedule that runs from late April into May.

The first event, "Wild in Our Town," is set for Thursday, April 23 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Philip & Jerry Miller Library, 100 S. Wilcox Street. No registration is required. The Town's Natural Resources staff will be joined by representatives from Douglas County Open Space, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and the Rocky Mountain Wildlife Alliance, who will staff displays and answer questions on local species, wildlife safety and coexistence strategies. The town expects subject matter experts from each partner organization to be on hand for the evening.

The birdwatching series picks up the following month. A classroom session, Basics of Birdwatching, runs Tuesday, May 5 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., also at the Miller Library, covering binocular use and field guide basics. Two outdoor outings follow: a Guided Birdwatching Walk along the paved East Plum Creek Trail on Wednesday, May 6 from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m., and a Guided Birdwatching Hike at Gateway Mesa Open Space on Saturday, May 9 from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.

The East Plum Creek Trail walk is paved and described as family-friendly. The Gateway Mesa hike is a 2.3-mile route that may include more challenging terrain and is not recommended for children under eight. The town notes that the May 5 classroom session builds field skills for the outdoor outings but is not a prerequisite for either walk or hike.

All four programs are free. The birdwatching sessions have limited capacity and require advance registration at CRgov.com/EnvironmentalEd. The April 23 Wild in Our Town event needs no sign-up. Anyone planning to join the walks or hike should bring water and comfortable shoes; binoculars are useful but not required.

Castle Rock's position where suburban neighborhoods meet Front Range open space means seasonal encounters with coyotes, deer, raptors and rattlesnakes are routine across many parts of town. The town is framing these sessions as practical guidance, specifically teaching residents how to protect small pets, identify local birds and navigate trails safely. The programs are open to all ages.

Weather-related schedule changes will be posted through the town's notification system at CRgov.com/NotifyMe.