When I visited Estes Park, Colorado, home to Rocky Mountain National Park in December 2013, I saw my first elk. I remember how cool that seemed. I spent a week skiing, checking out a few different places, and visiting family. This trip, prompted by my desire to move from the city to the mountains for a change of scenery, was a fact finding vacation.
Fast forward 3 years, and I moved to the mountains. Locals told me spring and fall to expect to see elk migration. That first fall, my breath was taken away by the sheer numbers, the sound when a herd moved, and the fact they seemed to be as omnipresent as good restaurants in the city. But it’s not just fall and spring. Elk travel through my area on a regular basis.
I'm a reading specialist and award winning educator from Chicago. While living in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado for nine years, I spent time hiking on the trails with my Goldendoodle Charlie and friends, writing, working in a literacy program at the Boulder Public Library, and mentoring writers and teachers. I love visiting schools. My books combine STEM and Kindness. "Aliana Reaches for the Moon" a picture book that draws inspiration from the moon and the curiosity of children, inviting children to be creative, explore, and experiment. "An Accidental Hero: A Mostly True Wombat Story" a picture book told in the form of a newscast which skillfully balances the serious subject of forest fires with compassion and humor to help children navigate this important topic through the real events of 2020. I moved to Northern New Jersey in 2025 and am working on new projects.
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8 thoughts on “Another Day, Another Animal Parade”
Ha! I wasn’t calling you that, but I’ve definitely had some natives be less than welcoming. I didn’t expect the level of intolerance for new people. I’m sure many of them consider themselves liberal and open-minded, but their words and attitudes show that to be untrue.
Eh…Colorado’s political history and development is intriguing. There is absolutely no doubt there is a huge influence of Californian politics that have entrenched here, but Coloradans have traditionally been very protective against any outside interests until the past 10 years…
Laura Roettiger Books 
Wow
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Right? I took these from my deck.
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Wow!
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One of the many, many, many reasons I’m proud to have been born, raised and still live in Colorado!
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I think many natives agree with you on this.
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Us natives are kind of assholes about it too, sometimes…lol…but we get the appreciation people have for it. That’s for sure.
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Ha! I wasn’t calling you that, but I’ve definitely had some natives be less than welcoming. I didn’t expect the level of intolerance for new people. I’m sure many of them consider themselves liberal and open-minded, but their words and attitudes show that to be untrue.
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Eh…Colorado’s political history and development is intriguing. There is absolutely no doubt there is a huge influence of Californian politics that have entrenched here, but Coloradans have traditionally been very protective against any outside interests until the past 10 years…
I can go on and on about it, I’ll shut up…lol
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