Burning Tree Ranch Neighborhood News and Updates
BTRHOA ANNUAL MEETING
The annual BTRHOA meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, from 6:30 – 8:30 pm at the Franktown Fire Station. Please arrive at the Franktown Fire Station community meeting room by 6:15 pm to sign-in and greet your neighbors (refreshments will be provided by the BTRHOA.) All Burning Tree Ranch residents are welcome to attend.
The final agenda will be emailed with the meeting reminder closer to the meeting. Tentative agenda items are:
1) Year in review for BTRHOA
2) Pertinent reports from board and committee members
3) BTR fire mitigation information
4) Sundown Oaks and other subdivision updates
5) Open BTR community forum
We will also have an election for one position on the BTRHOA Board of Directors that is expiring this year. The term for the position begins January 1, 2027 and expires December 31, 2029. Please note that, per the BTRHOA bylaws, only residents who are HOA members in good standing (that is, paid dues for 2026) are eligible to serve and to vote. To make a nomination, please email btrboard@gmail.com prior to September 20, 2026.
7/29/2026 CONCERNING BEAR ENCOUNTERS IN BTR
There have been two recent occurrences of bear activity in the neighborhood, where the bears have acted in a concerning manner. A sow and two cubs have come in very close proximity to resident homes and to residents, while showing little wariness or concern about the close presence of humans and dogs. In both cases, the bears were attracted to trash cans. In one case, the trash can was in an open garage occupied by the resident and his dog, when the bears came in close proximity, with no concern about the human presence. In the second case, the sow and her cubs were raiding a trash can left out at night. When the resident went out and threw an object in their direction to scare them away, the sow stood up on her hind legs while looking at the resident.
According to CPW, leaving attractants, such as trash cans and bird feeders, out overnight where they are accessible to bears is a violation of state law. If the bears continue their behavior of interacting with humans, they may become deemed a danger, requiring Colorado Parks and Wildlife interaction, including the possibility of the bears being put down. The following link provides more information on avoiding bear attractants: https://cpw.state.co.us/protect-your-home-wildlife. The following link provides tips on wildlife encounters: https://cpw.state.co.us/crossing-paths-wildlife#4257225834-3334926705
DougCo ALERT HAS REPLACED CodeRED
DougCo Alert (replaces CodeRED) is an advanced Emergency Notification System (ENS) designed to keep you safe and informed during critical situations, including: Natural Disasters (wildfires, floods, severe storms), Evacuations, Shelter-in-Place Orders, Missing Persons, and others. Even if you were previously signed up for CodeRED, you will need to reregister for DougCO Alert. For more information or to register for DougCo Alert, please visit https://www.douglas.co.us/board-county-commissioners/board-priorities/public-safety/codered-be-informed-and-receive-updates/ To register, click the "Register Today" link on that page.
MOUNTAIN PINE BEETLES
The Colorado State Forest Service is reporting ponderosa pine forests in some portions of Douglas County, and also Larimer, Gilpin, Clear Creek, Boulder, Jefferson, and Park counties are experiencing elevated levels of infestation from mountain pine beetles. For more information on mountain pine beetles, signs of infestation, and management options, click the following link:
Mountain Pine Beetle | Colorado State Forest Service | Colorado State University
TREE INSPECTIONS OFFERED TO IDENTIFY HARMFUL BEETLES AND PARASITES
An occurrence of dwarf mistletoe was recently identified on some ponderosa pine trees in Burning Tree Ranch. Dwarf mistletoe is a parasite that weakens trees by robbing them of food and water and can severely damage and kill trees. Mistletoe spreads to other trees if not controlled.
In addition, at the 2025 annual HOA meeting, there was discussion about the threat to our trees from pine beetles. Burning Tree Ranch resident Sean Searle explained that when pine beetles infest a tree, the needles will start to brown out (starting at the top if it is an IPS beetle attack, or the entire tree all at once if IPS and/or red turpentine beetles are attacking it). If the infested tree is not cut down and hauled away or chipped promptly, the beetles will spread to other trees. It is not enough to just cut the trees down. The beetles will emerge when their life cycle calls for it and attack nearby trees. Sean has stated that subdivisions that aren’t vigilant in the identification and removal of beetle infested trees, lose hundreds of trees each year as compared to those that are vigilant, which only lose perhaps a dozen trees a year. He can provide examples of such subdivisions that were once heavily wooded and now consist of mostly dead trees (similar to what you see in the mountains). The main offenders are IPS and red turpentine beetles but we will occasionally see mountain pine beetles in this area as well. All three beetles kill our ponderosa pine trees in the same way; a fungus that chokes the tree from getting water.
Sean has offered to inspect trees for these issues on lots in BTR at no charge, upon request from lot owners. If you are interested in having your trees inspected, you may contact Sean Searle (The Tree Guy LLC) at 303-521-6717.
DOUGLAS COUNTY SLASH-MULCH SITE:
There are major changes in the Douglas County Slash-Mulch program for 2026. The Slash-Mulch site in Castle Rock will no longer be open (it is City of Castle Rock property, and no longer available to the County). The new Slash-Mulch site is located west of Sedalia at 5675 Delva Way, near the existing Sedalia Landfill site. Scheduled opening is April 4, 2026. The site location information on the County website (/slash-mulch-program/) has not been updated as yet, but the acceptable item restrictions listed on the website will apply to the new site.
WILDFIRE MITIGATION REVIEW OF YOUR PROPERTY
Would you like to get a professional wildfire mitigation review of your property that is free of charge? The Franktown Fire Department provides that service. By calling the Fire Department at 303-688-3811 and requesting that review, you can schedule a visit by the staff where they will instruct you on wildfire mitigation priorities, and areas of prevention improvement for you to focus on. You can expect the review to take approximately ½ hour.
BEARS
Bears are active in our area from mid-March through late November. Bears come out of hibernation in the spring, roaming the neighborhood in search of food, and occasionally raiding bird feeders and trash left out for pickup. For helpful information on these issues and on co-existing safely with bears, we recommend the following website: https://cpw.state.co.us/living-bears
For tips on protecting pets from potentially dangerous wildlife, click here.
ARE YOU RECEIVING HOA EMAILS?
If you have not been receiving BTRHOA community communication emails, please click the "Contact Us" link below to let us know so we can update the distribution lists with your correct email address.