As we approach the holiday season and year end at Valley View, we wish all of you a happy, healthy and safe Holiday Season!  This time of year is also the season of giving.  This has been a difficult year for the land trust, as well as for many of you.  We had to close the hot springs for a few months and have had to limit capacity since reopening, with additional restrictions. While closed we kept on staff as much as possible, maintained the beautiful environment and facilities, as well as completed some needed improvements. The Everson Ranch is still closed to visitors. 

We miss all of you! So...this year we're having our first Virtual Holiday Open House/Party! Please plan to join your OLT friends, acquaintances, and community in a celebration of the spirit of Valley View during this season of peace and giving. Please share stories, photos, songs, dance, art, poetry, etc. Stay for the whole party or drop by to say hello. Bring your own holiday drink and toast the season online!

Hope to see you then!

This summer saw spikes in the populations of a variety of wildlife. Numbers of individuals for a variety of species are characterized by years of low population and other years when the populations soar. Mice, rabbits, and squirrels are prey for coyotes, hawks, and owls. When the population of the species that are lower on the food chain spike, a little while later there is a spike in populations of predators. We are already seeing and hearing more coyotes. This past weekend some people saw a snowy owl catch a squirrel near the heated pools.

There have been a lot of squirrels. They are cute and they are everywhere. We are extra aware of keeping doors closed and trying to keep the outdoor animals outdoors. With the arrival of cooler temperatures, the mice have been moving into the cabins and indoor spaces. We are setting traps and patching holes. Mice can get in a very small opening and they are a fact of life in the country. We are not putting out poison. Because mice are low on the food chain, poisoning mice poisons the entire hierarchy.

What can you do? Keep your food closed up in mice resistant containers, keep doors closed, and let us know if you see a "full" trap. The little creatures are more numerous this year than they have been for quite some time. We expect to see them try to enter the indoor spaces as they seek warmth and food. Be prepared, be patient. We are making efforts to minimize the impact of the high population of "varmints."

In response to an alarming increase in hospitalizations due to COVID-19, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) today amended its Safer at Home public health order to limit personal gatherings in all counties at all Safer at Home levels. The revised order reduces the size of personal gatherings to no more than 10 people from no more than two separate households.

Recent case investigation data show that since July attending social gatherings and community exposures have become more common among new cases. This suggests people have relaxed their precautions and are interacting more closely with a greater number of households.

Normally, OLT is closed from December 1 through December 28 every year. This year, we are closing December 20 through December 28. We will be open for the first part of December. We will reopen on December 29, as usual. During the closed period, the office will be closed and we will not be making reservations, answering the phone, or responding to messages. Think ahead if you want a reservation for January. Enjoy the holidays and be healthy!