Wildlife escaping the Gold Mountain Fire are moving closer to town, prompting state wildlife officials to advise the public on how they can simultaneously help animals and give them the space they need.

With their habitat disrupted, wildlife will seek food, water and shelter, Rachel Sralla, area wildlife manager for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, told the Ouray county commissioners during a special meeting Monday.

“As they’re displaced from places with really high fire activity or a lot of heat, a lot of smoke, they may be moving quickly, they may be fearful, and we might encounter them in places that we don’t normally see them,” Sralla said.

Sralla asked the community to be mindful of their dogs and to keep them leashed, especially around moose if they come down from the mountains. She said cows with calves will be particularly protective.

For those who are worried, Sralla said there are two things the public can do to help: mitigate additional disturbances and provide some water for the thirsty, displaced animals.

Wildlife were already under stress for lack of food and water because of drought. This is especially true for bears, so Sralla advised keeping food and trash secure.

People should never feed wildlife, but because of the dry conditions, she said it’s OK to provide a shallow water source. The water shouldn’t be too deep and should have a stick or a log placed so small animals can climb out if they fall in.

“This year, we would be okay with that just because of the drought conditions,” Sralla said.

Wildlife are expected to return to their habitat once the danger has passed.

“I know that folks want to help. I get concerned as well,” Sralla said. “I’m a softy and don’t want to see wildlife in need. But we need to be thoughtful about how can our actions actually help versus what is the potential harm that they could cause.”

People can report animals who are injured or suffering to Colorado Parks and Wildlife during office hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday at 970-252-6000.

Outside those hours, you can call the non-emergency line for the Colorado State Patrol at 970-249-4392.

Commissioner Michelle Nauer said she saw a couple of moose wandering around Idlewild Estates in the area of County Road 23 headed toward the Potter Ranch, which is unusual.

Commissioner Lynn Padgett asked about a bighorn sheep herd that previously occupied an area near ground zero of the fire.

Sralla said bighorn sheep have been resilient in previous fires, that fire can benefit their habitat long term, and she expects sheep to continue using the area.

Fire reaches 2% containment 

Firefighters working southwest of the Gold Mountain Fire initially established 3% containment of the perimeter. That containment estimate was reduced to 2% Monday evening after firing operations increased the fire’s total acreage.

The fire is at 31,420 acres with 928 personnel assigned, according to a Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3 update Tuesday morning.

Ouray County Commission Chair Jake Niece said Monday crews will continue patrolling the containment area, putting out hotspots, watching for rockfalls, and protecting the Highway 550 corridor and city of Ouray.

Ouray County Sheriff Justin Perry and the incident management team are assessing the situation and will announce when those who were evacuated can return home, Niece said. Hotspots, loose rock and other hazards still remain in some areas.

“There’s no certain date yet, but they are working toward getting people back as soon as they can,” Niece said.

New mandatory evacuation orders have been posted for parts of the southern edges of Gunnison and Montrose counties as the risk of fire spreads north.

Calmer winds Sunday afternoon allowed crews to use drones to conduct planned firing operations to reinforce indirect confinement lines between Baldy Peak and County Road 12.

The glow from those operations was visible from Ridgway on Sunday night.

Additional prescribed fires may occur over the next few days if conditions allow.

Cloudy weather with lower temperatures and better relative humidity also brings an increased chance of dry lightning and erratic winds peaking Tuesday afternoon. Record-setting heat is forecasted for this weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

County commissioners are expected to discuss plans for response to emergency flash flooding, should enough rain fall to cause mudslides or other problems in the burned area. That special work session is scheduled for 11 a.m. today.