Park City’s 400 miles of trails are a tremendous recreational outlet, they also crisscross wildlife habitats and migration corridors. Jane Gendron shares Tips for staying safe and protecting Summit County’s resident animal friends in the Summer/Fall 2020 issue of Park City Magazine. Just around the next switchback could be a moose, deer, elk, or fox—maybe even a black bear, bobcat, or cougar - what do you do when you encounter wildlife on the trail? Here are tips on what to do if you’re lucky enough to meet a wild animal in its native habitat.
Most animals don’t want to engage with humans, so make them aware of your presence. Always make noise when hiking or biking, and slow your roll around blind turns in the trail. As Scott Root of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources says, “Never approach or try to touch wildlife.... And don’t ever feed wildlife.” For more information, visit wildawareutah.org.
When you meet a moose: Give moose ample space (at least 25 yards) and leash dogs immediately, as a curious canine can anger an otherwise unperturbed animal. The most aggressive moose tend to be a cow moose with a calf. Don’t try to outrun a charging moose - they can run up to 35 mph; look around and see what you can get behind to separate you and the moose, such as a tree or boulder.
When you meet a mountain lion or cougar: Stop, pick up small children and pets, make yourself look big, and slowly back away. No matter how scared you may be, do not run (you don’t want to trigger that prey-chasing instinct). In the rare case that the cougar won’t back down, throw rocks or other objects to scare it off.
When you meet a black bear: Stand your ground (don’t run or scale a tree), keep calm, and give the bear the opportunity to skedaddle on its own. If a bear attacks, fight back.
When you meet a coyote: Keep your pets close, make noise, and do not run. While making yourself look as big as possible, back away slowly. If necessary, throw rocks or other objects to frighten it away.
When you meet an elk: Give elk, and deer of any species (mule deer are most common locally), at least 25 yards of breathing room. Though elk are unlikely to charge, during the fall “rut” (mating season), males can become aggressive. If one charges, get behind a tree, boulder, or something else solid.
UPDATES FOR THE HOME: After months of quarantine, living spaces are becoming multifunctional - Apartment Therapy shares 6 Up-and-Coming Bedroom Trends Real Estate Agents Love Seeing.
Bedrooms doubling as office spaces - with more people working from home during the pandemic—and likely to continue to going forward—the bedroom can serve as a nice and quiet place to work, Blacker says. “Buyers like to envision how they are going to live in a home, so when you have a work-from-home spot already built in, they can much easily picture themselves living there and working from home.”
Bedrooms doubling as wellness spaces - Don’t want to sleep where you work - try a wellness space with a yoga mat and plants. Some are carving out a fitness space in their rooms with free weights, resistance bands and balance balls. ”
Integrated headboards - show homes for new construction developments often showcase integrated headboards with lighting, often with small task lighting or ambient lights, and are usually connected to the smart home system.
Live, not artificial, plants in the bedroom - adding live, air-purifying plants to the bedroom makes sense as people are spending more time at home and want their bedrooms to feel like a peaceful, clean oasis.
Mixed textures - like wood, fabric, metals, and glass—with a neutral color palette is a trend with matching furniture pieces that look like a set. The trend has staying power because it’s flexible allows and transitions if they move to a home with a different architectural style.
Balconies - after spending months in quarantine, apartment renters and homeowners alike are prioritizing bedroom balconies. This extra space is very appealing to buyers and can add value to a home.
We are on an upgrade roll - here are 7 Timeless Bathroom Upgrades You Won’t Regret in Five Years, According to Pros by Maria C. Hunt with Apartment Therapy. To help decide if your upgrade investments will stand the test of time, top interior designers across the country have shared their tips on the wisest ways to invest when it comes to renovating your bathroom.
Go frameless for the shower - A clunky feature of older shower enclosures is the metal strip that runs around the edges. If you’re updating your shower, leave off the metal frame.
Install an LED mirror - vanity mirrors with LED lights built into the frame add a great clean look for a more modern bath, and it has a feel of sophisticated luxury like you would find in an upscale hotel.
Do a riff on classic subway tile - subway tile is a timeless and traditional choice for the bath and instead of being laid in the horizontal brick pattern, try them stacked or turned on their side vertically.
Add a freestanding tub - the original style of tub since the invention of bathing and you can't go wrong with this statement piece.
Choose a warmer white - off white is more interesting than bright white and it’s not as stark, it feels more forgiving.
Put your tub inside your shower - add a spa-like element to your bathroom by placing the tub inside an extra-large shower enclosure.
Upgrade your shower tile enclosure - little changes to your shower tile can be life-changing: add a little 3 x 3 outcropping or a tiny niche at ankle height so you have a place to rest your foot while shaving in the shower, make the niche to hold your soap and shampoo or add a shelf.
