<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd"
	xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>Animals &amp; Wildlife Archives | Denver Westword</title>
	<atom:link href="https://www.westword.com/tag/animals-wildlife/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>https://www.westword.com</link>
	<description>The Leading Independent News Source in Denver, Colorado</description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 12:44:59 +0000</pubDate>
	<lastBuildDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 12:44:59 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en-US</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>
	hourly	</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>
	1	</sy:updateFrequency>
	<generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.5</generator>
		<copyright>Copyright 2026 Westword. All rights reserved. This RSS file is offered to individuals, Westword readers, and non-commercial organizations only. Any commercial websites wishing to use this RSS file, please contact Westword.</copyright>
		<managingEditor>letters@westword.com (Westword Editor)</managingEditor>
		<webMaster>web@voicemediagroup.com (Westword Webmaster)</webMaster>
		<docs>https://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss</docs>
					<image>
				<url>https://www.westword.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/general-feed-rss.jpg</url>
				<title>Denver Westword</title>
				<description>The Leading Independent News Source in Denver, Colorado</description>
				<link>https://www.westword.com</link>
				<width>144</width>
				<height>90</height>
			</image>
				<item>
		<title>Wild Turkeys Run A-Fowl Throughout Denver Area</title>
		<link>https://www.westword.com/news/wild-turkeys-in-denver-40866078/</link>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.westword.com/?p=40866078</guid>
					<dc:creator>Hannah Metzger</dc:creator>
				<comments>https://www.westword.com/news/wild-turkeys-in-denver-40866078/#respond</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 06:44:58 -0600</pubDate>
						<enclosure url="https://www.westword.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Untitled-51-e1775075308132.png" length="0" type="image/png" />
				<description><![CDATA[<img src="https://www.westword.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Untitled-51-e1775075308132.png" alt="A collage of photos of turkeys spotted in Denver in 2026." /><p>Here's why you may see more of these feathered friends in the coming weeks.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.westword.com/news/wild-turkeys-in-denver-40866078/">Wild Turkeys Run A-Fowl Throughout Denver Area</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</a>.</p>
]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://www.westword.com/news/wild-turkeys-in-denver-40866078/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		<source url="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</source>
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Denver Zoo Lawsuit Alleges New Sea Lion Exhibit Was Built Poorly, Suffers From Leaks</title>
		<link>https://www.westword.com/news/denver-zoo-sea-lion-exhibit-built-poorly-leaks-lawsuit-40859007/</link>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.westword.com/?p=40859007</guid>
					<dc:creator>Thomas Mitchell</dc:creator>
				<comments>https://www.westword.com/news/denver-zoo-sea-lion-exhibit-built-poorly-leaks-lawsuit-40859007/#respond</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 08:23:38 -0600</pubDate>
						<enclosure url="https://www.westword.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/ww-media/mediaserver/den/2025-26/2025_sea_lions_grand_opening_-_event_-_dsouder_-_06202025-612457607-e1774996596738.webp" length="0" type="image/webp" />
				<description><![CDATA[<img src="https://www.westword.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/ww-media/mediaserver/den/2025-26/2025_sea_lions_grand_opening_-_event_-_dsouder_-_06202025-612457607-e1774996596738.webp" alt="Denver zoo guests watch a sea lion and its trainer perform" /><p>The $19 million renovation took almost two years to finish, and the zoo wasn't pleased with the result.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.westword.com/news/denver-zoo-sea-lion-exhibit-built-poorly-leaks-lawsuit-40859007/">Denver Zoo Lawsuit Alleges New Sea Lion Exhibit Was Built Poorly, Suffers From Leaks</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</a>.</p>
]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://www.westword.com/news/denver-zoo-sea-lion-exhibit-built-poorly-leaks-lawsuit-40859007/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		<source url="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</source>
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Dog Day Afternoon: Colorado Shakespeare Festival Holds Auditions for Canine Star</title>
		<link>https://www.westword.com/arts-culture/colorado-shakespeare-festival-holds-auditions-for-canine-star-40865259/</link>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.westword.com/?p=40865259</guid>
					<dc:creator>Toni Tresca</dc:creator>
				<comments>https://www.westword.com/arts-culture/colorado-shakespeare-festival-holds-auditions-for-canine-star-40865259/#respond</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
				<category domain="foundation:section-category">Arts &amp; Culture</category>
						<enclosure url="https://www.westword.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/CSF_Dog_Auditions7GA.jpg" length="0" type="image/jpeg" />
				<description><![CDATA[<img src="https://www.westword.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/CSF_Dog_Auditions7GA.jpg" alt="A dog runs onstage" /><p>On March 28, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival auditioned dozens of dogs for a scene-stealing role in <i>Shakespeare in Love</i> at CU Boulder.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.westword.com/arts-culture/colorado-shakespeare-festival-holds-auditions-for-canine-star-40865259/">Dog Day Afternoon: Colorado Shakespeare Festival Holds Auditions for Canine Star</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</a>.</p>
]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://www.westword.com/arts-culture/colorado-shakespeare-festival-holds-auditions-for-canine-star-40865259/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		<source url="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</source>
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Colorado Lawmakers Approve Ban of Selling Dogs, Cats at Pet Stores</title>
		<link>https://www.westword.com/news/colorado-lawmakers-pass-ban-sales-dogs-cats-pet-stores-40865501/</link>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.westword.com/?p=40865501</guid>
					<dc:creator>Hannah Metzger</dc:creator>
				<comments>https://www.westword.com/news/colorado-lawmakers-pass-ban-sales-dogs-cats-pet-stores-40865501/#respond</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2026 06:51:00 -0600</pubDate>
				<category domain="foundation:section-category">News</category>
						<enclosure url="https://www.westword.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/3935123941_0df023ed1d_o-e1774916328502.jpg" length="0" type="image/jpeg" />
				<description><![CDATA[<img src="https://www.westword.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/3935123941_0df023ed1d_o-e1774916328502.jpg" alt="puppies play around in a pet store display" /><p>Seven other states have passed similar statewide prohibitions on retail pet sales, as have over two dozen Colorado cities.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.westword.com/news/colorado-lawmakers-pass-ban-sales-dogs-cats-pet-stores-40865501/">Colorado Lawmakers Approve Ban of Selling Dogs, Cats at Pet Stores</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</a>.</p>
]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://www.westword.com/news/colorado-lawmakers-pass-ban-sales-dogs-cats-pet-stores-40865501/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		<source url="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</source>
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Photos: Glowing Wild Now Illuminating the Denver Zoo</title>
		<link>https://www.westword.com/arts-culture/photos-glowing-wild-now-illuminating-denver-zoo-2026-40856321/</link>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.westword.com/?p=40856321</guid>
					<dc:creator>Kristen Fiore</dc:creator>
				<comments>https://www.westword.com/arts-culture/photos-glowing-wild-now-illuminating-denver-zoo-2026-40856321/#respond</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 12:51:15 -0600</pubDate>
				<category domain="foundation:section-category">Arts &amp; Culture</category>
						<enclosure url="https://www.westword.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/Glowing-Wild-3-e1773424528703.jpg" length="0" type="image/jpeg" />
				<description><![CDATA[<img src="https://www.westword.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/Glowing-Wild-3-e1773424528703.jpg" alt="A frog lantern at glowing wild" /><p>The event is back by popular demand after 70,000 people attended last year.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.westword.com/arts-culture/photos-glowing-wild-now-illuminating-denver-zoo-2026-40856321/">Photos: Glowing Wild Now Illuminating the Denver Zoo</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</a>.</p>
]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://www.westword.com/arts-culture/photos-glowing-wild-now-illuminating-denver-zoo-2026-40856321/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		<source url="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</source>
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Denver Creator Makes Art From the Skins of Invasive Species</title>
		<link>https://www.westword.com/arts-culture/laura-shape-makes-art-from-the-skins-of-invasive-species-40842399/</link>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.westword.com/?p=40842399</guid>
					<dc:creator>Teague Bohlen</dc:creator>
				<comments>https://www.westword.com/arts-culture/laura-shape-makes-art-from-the-skins-of-invasive-species-40842399/#respond</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 13:11:26 -0600</pubDate>
				<category domain="foundation:section-category">Arts &amp; Culture</category>
						<enclosure url="https://www.westword.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/Laura_Shape_Beautiful_Stranger-cropped.jpg" length="0" type="image/jpeg" />
				<description><![CDATA[<img src="https://www.westword.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/Laura_Shape_Beautiful_Stranger-cropped.jpg" alt="Artist Laura Shape stands in front of a colorful painting made of the skin of an invasive python species." /><p>"This is why the story of the invasive species appealed to me so much. This is something I can do. This is something I can help with."</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.westword.com/arts-culture/laura-shape-makes-art-from-the-skins-of-invasive-species-40842399/">Denver Creator Makes Art From the Skins of Invasive Species</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</a>.</p>
]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://www.westword.com/arts-culture/laura-shape-makes-art-from-the-skins-of-invasive-species-40842399/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		<source url="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</source>
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Who Gets the Dog? Colorado Considers New Pet Custody Law for Breakups</title>
		<link>https://www.westword.com/news/colorado-considering-new-pet-custody-law-40848903/</link>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.westword.com/?p=40848903</guid>
					<dc:creator>Hannah Metzger</dc:creator>
				<comments>https://www.westword.com/news/colorado-considering-new-pet-custody-law-40848903/#respond</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Feb 2026 13:05:00 -0700</pubDate>
				<category domain="foundation:section-category">News</category>
						<enclosure url="https://www.westword.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/dog1.jpg" length="0" type="image/jpeg" />
				<description><![CDATA[<img src="https://www.westword.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/dog1.jpg" alt="Who Gets the Dog? Colorado Considers New Pet Custody Law for Breakups" /><p>State lawmakers advanced a bill to establish legal standards for pet custody rulings, directing courts to consider the animals' best interests.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.westword.com/news/colorado-considering-new-pet-custody-law-40848903/">Who Gets the Dog? Colorado Considers New Pet Custody Law for Breakups</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</a>.</p>
]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://www.westword.com/news/colorado-considering-new-pet-custody-law-40848903/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		<source url="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</source>
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Colorado&#8217;s Seeds Are Coated in Pesticides, Even When It Isn&#8217;t Necessary</title>
		<link>https://www.westword.com/opinion/colorado-seeds-are-coated-in-pesticides-40847331/</link>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.westword.com/?p=40847331</guid>
					<dc:creator>Patricia Calhoun</dc:creator>
				<comments>https://www.westword.com/opinion/colorado-seeds-are-coated-in-pesticides-40847331/#respond</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 22 Feb 2026 06:55:27 -0700</pubDate>
						<enclosure url="https://www.westword.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/madison.jpg" length="0" type="image/jpeg" />
				<description><![CDATA[<img src="https://www.westword.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/madison.jpg" alt="woman with bees" /><p>The SEED Act would base seed treatment decisions on actual pest risk instead of default packaging.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.westword.com/opinion/colorado-seeds-are-coated-in-pesticides-40847331/">Colorado&#8217;s Seeds Are Coated in Pesticides, Even When It Isn&#8217;t Necessary</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</a>.</p>
]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://www.westword.com/opinion/colorado-seeds-are-coated-in-pesticides-40847331/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		<source url="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</source>
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Bees, Alpacas and Goats, Oh My! Five Unique Animal Experiences Around Denver</title>
		<link>https://www.westword.com/arts-culture/unique-animal-experiences-around-denver-40842686/</link>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.westword.com/?p=40842686</guid>
					<dc:creator>Shannon Tucker</dc:creator>
				<comments>https://www.westword.com/arts-culture/unique-animal-experiences-around-denver-40842686/#respond</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
				<category domain="foundation:section-category">Arts &amp; Culture</category>
						<enclosure url="https://www.westword.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/ww-media/mediaserver/den/2017-35/broken-shovel.webp" length="0" type="image/webp" />
				<description><![CDATA[<img src="https://www.westword.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/ww-media/mediaserver/den/2017-35/broken-shovel.webp" alt="Goats peeking through a fence" /><p>Denver animal lovers, this one's for you. </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.westword.com/arts-culture/unique-animal-experiences-around-denver-40842686/">Bees, Alpacas and Goats, Oh My! Five Unique Animal Experiences Around Denver</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</a>.</p>
]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://www.westword.com/arts-culture/unique-animal-experiences-around-denver-40842686/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		<source url="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</source>
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Sex, Money and ICE: Ten Pending Bills in the Colorado Legislature</title>
		<link>https://www.westword.com/news/ten-intersting-bills-in-colorado-legislature-2026-40845604/</link>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.westword.com/?p=40845604</guid>
					<dc:creator>Hannah Metzger</dc:creator>
				<comments>https://www.westword.com/news/ten-intersting-bills-in-colorado-legislature-2026-40845604/#respond</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 17 Feb 2026 06:30:00 -0700</pubDate>
				<category domain="foundation:section-category">News</category>
						<enclosure url="https://www.westword.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/protest-e1771303569942.jpg" length="0" type="image/jpeg" />
				<description><![CDATA[<img src="https://www.westword.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/protest-e1771303569942.jpg" alt="Sex, Money and ICE: Ten Pending Bills in the Colorado Legislature" /><p>From pet custody after divorce to prostitution and underage marriage, here are a few of the most interesting proposals lawmakers are considering.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.westword.com/news/ten-intersting-bills-in-colorado-legislature-2026-40845604/">Sex, Money and ICE: Ten Pending Bills in the Colorado Legislature</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</a>.</p>
]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://www.westword.com/news/ten-intersting-bills-in-colorado-legislature-2026-40845604/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		<source url="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</source>
		
			</item>
	</channel>
</rss>
