Safety

CU Boulder launches campus safety app: CU Boulder Safe

Megan Maneval — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 19:48:21 +0000

CU Boulder launches campus safety app: CU Boulder Safe Megan Maneval Wed, 10/08/2025 - 13:48

CU Boulder has launched a new mobile safety app, CU Boulder Safe. The app is designed to centralize emergency alerts, safety tools and campus resources—making it easier for students, faculty and staff to find everything they need in one place. CU Boulder Safe is free for campus affiliates and available on both iOS and Android devices.

Once downloaded, campus community members can log in with their CU Boulder credentials to receive emergency alerts, connect with dispatch for support, and access important safety resources. The app brings together tools that were previously spread across multiple websites and platforms, including links to Buff Bus, CUNightRide, parking and campus maps, mental health services and campus reporting options.

“Safety is a shared responsibility, and this app gives every member of our community the tools they need to stay informed, connected and supported—whether in an emergency or just going about their day,” said Marlon Lynch, vice chancellor for public safety.

One of the key new features is a built-in text function to communicate with dispatch in non-emergency situations. Another new feature is Virtual Walkhome, which enables you to allow CU Boulder Police dispatchers to monitor your location as you walk across campus. It’s designed to give you peace of mind if you’re walking alone—especially at night. The Friend Walk option, which the campus previously offered through the Guardian app, lets you share your location with a trusted friend or family member who can track your route until you arrive safely.

“The CU Boulder Safe app is one more tool that our students, faculty and staff now have access to that provides added safety and security to our campus,” said Chancellor Justin Schwartz. “Offering such a resource through the Division of Public Safety is critical to the university’s priority of building a more safe and resilient campus community.”

The app also includes quick access to CUPD, alerts social feeds (@CUBoulderAlerts and @CUBoulderPolice), and community safety partners like BoCoAlert and the Boulder Police Department.

CU Boulder Safe will eventually replace the Guardian safety app, which will be phased out later this year. Help us get the word out—encourage your colleagues and students to download the CU Boulder Safe app and start using it today.

How to download CU Boulder Safe

CU Boulder Safe is an app available for download by all students, faculty and staff. You must have an IdentiKey to access the app.

In the Apple App or Google Play store, search for and download the “CU Boulder Safe” app
Open the app and log in using your IdentiKey credentials.
Make sure to enable push notifications. This will allow you to receive real-time emergency alerts through the app.
Add your phone number to your profile. This helps dispatch reach you faster in an emergency.
Use the CU Boulder Safe app to access key safety features provided by the campus.

A new free app for CU Boulder students, faculty and staff offers emergency alerts, reporting tools and safety features in one place.

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Bear safety tips: Mind your trash, more

Anonymous — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 18:39:06 +0000

Bear safety tips: Mind your trash, more Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 09/25/2025 - 12:39

Bears are sporadically seen in the Boulder foothills and, on rare occasions, on campus.

It’s important that students, faculty, staff and the larger Boulder community become familiar with bear safety tips:

Don’t feed bears, and don’t put out food for other wildlife that attracts bears.
Be responsible about trash and bird feeders. The city of Boulder has a city ordinance that requires trash to be secured in bear-resistant trash cans or carts for residents in designated areas within Boulder. Residents within the secure trash implementation zone, including students living in rental units, should be provided with retrofitted bear-resistant trash cans/carts from their trash disposal company. Learn more about the bear-resistant trash ordinance.
Keep all bear-accessible windows and doors closed and locked, including home, garage and vehicle doors. Don’t leave attractants such as snacks, food wrappers, gum or even scented hand lotions in your car, and don't leave pet food outside your home.
If you see a bear on campus, call 911. Stand still, stay calm and let the bear identify you and leave. Talk in a normal tone of voice. Be sure the bear has an escape route. If you see cubs, their mother is usually close by. Leave the area immediately.

Visit the Colorado Parks & Wildlife "Be Bear Aware" page or the Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks bears and mountain lions page for additional information and safety tips.

The CU Boulder campus is home to, or frequented by, raccoons, deer, squirrels, beavers, prairie dogs and dozens of species of birds. Foxes have also been making a rebound in the area. On rare occasions, we even get visits from larger animals such as coyotes and bears. CU Boulder's Environmental Services team offers a few simple reminders about interactions between people and wildlife on campus.

Black bears are common in Colorado, including in the Boulder foothills and, on rare occasions, campus. It’s important that students, faculty, staff and the larger Boulder community become familiar with bear safety tips.

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Tips for co-existing with campus wildlife

Anonymous — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 18:16:42 +0000

Tips for co-existing with campus wildlife Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 09/25/2025 - 12:16

Hawk on campus. Photo by Craig Levinsky.

CU Boulder’s campuses are home to, or frequented by, raccoons, deer, squirrels, beavers, prairie dogs and dozens of species of birds. Foxes have also been making a rebound in the area. On rare occasions, we even get visits from larger animals such as coyotes and bears.

It’s important to remember, however, that wildlife is wild for a reason and should be treated as such for the well-being of both the animals and our people. CU Boulder’s Environmental Services team offers a few simple reminders for students, faculty and staff about interactions between people and wildlife.

Do not approach or feed wild animals on campus, even squirrels or birds.
Do not feed the turtles or fish living in and around Varsity Lake, the Kittredge ponds or other ponds around campus.
If you come across an injured or dead animal, report it to the CU Facilities Management (FM) service desk at 303-492-5522 so that designated campus employees can properly assist or remove the animal.
Problems or human contact with squirrels, rodents, birds or other animals can likewise be reported to the FM service desk at 303-492-5522 at any time of day or night.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s (CPW) website includes several resources and tips, including how to avoid wildlife conflicts and why feeding wildlife is a bad idea. Websites for the city of Boulder and Boulder County also include valuable information related to local wildlife.
Remember, we are in pre-hibernation season, with bears needing to consume 20,000 calories; you could very likely see a bear during this time period. We want to get them off campus safely and do not want to tag a bear unless absolutely necessary—a tag will show CPW that it has been to the city once, and two tags on a bear’s ears mean it will need to be euthanized by state law.

“CU Boulder’s setting provides ample opportunities for observing wildlife, enhancing our enjoyment of campus and the outdoors,” said Troy Muller, wildlife manager and integrated pest manager at CU Boulder.

CU staff work together with wildlife specialists, Boulder Animal Control and Colorado Parks and Wildlife when dealing with wildlife issues on campus. Muller said the animals are handled with the utmost care to ensure their safety. They are usually sent to an animal refuge or up in the mountains to distance them from civilization.

“CU also invests in having an Integrated Pest Management department to make sure that when animals find their way to campus, they are cared for properly and, when necessary, safely removed from campus, ensuring the campus populace and the animal are safe,” Muller said “What makes CU Boulder such a special campus is the staff, faculty and student body can observe the wildlife, and we can all coexist with each other.”

Animal well being is top priority in wildlife management. “I feel very fortunate to work on such a beautiful campus and be around all the beautiful creatures that call this place home,” Muller said.

Shope papilloma virus in wild rabbits

There have been reports of rabbits with black tentacles growing out of their head in Fort Collins. The shope papilloma virus has been reported in all corners of Colorado for at least 100 years. While the virus itself is nothing new in this part of the country, the threat to domestic rabbits is concerning. The virus will move in all eight different species of Colorado’s wild rabbits and hares and can be transferred to domestic rabbits.

Take care not to let your pet rabbits be exposed to wild rabbits. Make sure the outdoor area where your rabbit may be exposed is secure and won’t allow wild rabbits to enter. Keep domestic rabbits inside during peak insect activity. Ticks and mosquitos act as vectors for the virus and are most busy at night in the hot summer and warm fall months.

The virus does not spread to humans, but if you see a rabbit with this affliction, please report it to the Operations Control Center.

CU Boulder's Environmental Services team offers a few simple reminders about interactions between people and wildlife on campus.

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Naloxone availability on campus and in Boulder

Megan Maneval — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 13:29:31 +0000

Naloxone availability on campus and in Boulder Megan Maneval Thu, 09/25/2025 - 07:29

Naloxone is an FDA-approved medication that can be used to temporarily reverse opioid overdoses. Free naloxone is available through Health Promotion on campus and through several programs in Boulder.

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Safety tips for earlier sunsets and fall evenings

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 18:23:02 +0000

Safety tips for earlier sunsets and fall evenings Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 09/18/2025 - 12:23

With cooler temperatures and earlier sunsets, there are some things to be more mindful of in autumn. Here are safety tips and reminders from Off-Campus Life for fall evenings.

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5 insights to help you recognize hazing

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 19:46:19 +0000

5 insights to help you recognize hazing Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 09/16/2025 - 13:46

Health and Wellness Services

College is full of opportunities to meet new people and join groups, and sometimes the pressure to fit in can lead groups to put new members at risk of harm. Here are some things to know about hazing.

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Tips for talking about and preventing suicide

Anonymous — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 12:50:37 +0000

Tips for talking about and preventing suicide Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 09/09/2025 - 06:50

Health and Wellness Services

Starting a conversation about suicide, even briefly, can make a meaningful difference. It can help someone feel seen, heard and supported enough to reach out for help. Here are some tips you can use if you’re concerned that a friend, roommate or classmate may be struggling or thinking about suicide.

Starting a conversation about suicide, even briefly, can make a meaningful difference. It can help someone feel seen, heard and supported enough to reach out for help. Here are some tips you can use if you're concerned that a friend, roommate or classmate may be struggling or thinking about suicide.

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5 things everyone should know about sexual assault

Megan Maneval — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 06:00:00 +0000

5 things everyone should know about sexual assault Megan Maneval Wed, 09/03/2025 - 00:00

Health and Wellness Services

Sexual assault is all too common and can have lasting impacts on individuals and communities. Here are five things everyone should know about sexual assault.

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5 tips for Labor Day weekend

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 06:00:00 +0000

5 tips for Labor Day weekend Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 08/29/2025 - 00:00

From safety tips and dining hall hours to noise and fireworks ordinances, here are some tips and reminders to keep in mind as we head into Labor Day weekend.

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CUPD welcomes 2 explosive detection K-9s: Dax and Harlo

Megan Maneval — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 20:04:40 +0000

CUPD welcomes 2 explosive detection K-9s: Dax and Harlo Megan Maneval Thu, 08/28/2025 - 14:04

The CU Boulder Police Department (CUPD) has expanded its team with two new four-legged officers: Dax, a black Labrador retriever, and Harlo, a golden Labrador retriever. These energetic and highly trained explosive detection K-9s are already making their presence known across campus, keeping the campus community safe by sniffing out potential threats all while bringing smiles to students, faculty and staff.

Dax and Harlo are both just under 2 years old and have undergone rigorous training to prepare for their roles. Explosive detection dogs are selected for their curiosity, drive and ability to focus in high-stimulation environments. Their training involves learning to detect a wide range of explosive materials through scent, often using real-world scenarios to simulate the types of environments they’ll encounter on duty.

“These dogs are trained to sniff out suspicious packages and items, especially around campus events,” said Officer Bianca Sipres, Harlo’s handler. “Harlo is very energetic and still very much a puppy. He loves attention and meeting people, but when he’s working, he’s all about sniffing and keeping our campus safe.”

Officer Ryley Davis, Dax’s handler, echoed the importance of curiosity in a K-9’s temperament.

“We look for dogs that are going to seek things out, and that’s exactly what Dax does,” Davis said. “You’ll see him sticking his nose in all sorts of places, investigating and doing what he’s trained to do.”

The journey to becoming a K-9 handler is highly competitive. Officers Sipres and Davis underwent a rigorous selection process, including interviews, evaluations and specialized training to ensure they were the right fit for this critical role. Their dedication and connection with their K-9 partners are evident in their interactions on campus.

When you see Dax or Harlo on patrol, expect to see a lot of sniffing—it's their way of working. But don’t be shy. Both dogs are friendly and love meeting people.

“Don’t be afraid to come ask us questions or even just to come meet Harlo,” said Sipres. “He loves to meet people.”

Davis added, “Feel free to come say hi and give Dax some pets. He loves the attention, and he’s a friendly dog.”

With Dax and Harlo now part of the CUPD team, the department is better equipped than ever to ensure the safety of the CU Boulder community—one sniff at a time.

Two Labrador retrievers are completing training on the CU Boulder campus and will officially be sworn in to the CU Boulder Police Department later this fall.

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Safety

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