Lions roaring at 2 a.m. and beer cans in the bear exhibit: Wild Animal Sanctuary frets over housing development next door

The founder of the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg — home to more than 950 rehabilitated animals, including lions, tigers and bears — says he’s concerned about an encroaching housing development that he believes could threaten the sanctuary’s existence.

Pat Craig, executive director of the animal sanctuary, aired his grievances on social media, stirring up outrage over the building plans. Now, the developers say their lives are being threatened by supporters of the sanctuary.

In a Facebook post over the weekend titled “URGENT CALL FOR HELP!,” Craig put developers Sherry Wigaard and Velois Smith on blast. He wrote that, in 2010, the developers sought county approval for a subdivision to be built on land they owned adjacent to the animal sanctuary.

Craig said he wrote a contract with rules for proceeding with neighboring development that he, Wigaard and Smith signed to help protect the animals.

Now, 15 years later, the developers are finally moving forward, attempting to sell off eight lots that span 47 acres that butt up against the 1,450-acre animal habitat. Craig said the developers — who do business as Wigaard Smith Estates — are not adhering to the contract they agreed upon.

“By not following the stipulations of this very important contract, all of the animals at our Keenesburg facility are at risk!” he wrote, eliciting nearly 1,000 comments from Facebook users around the globe, with some calling Wigaard and Smith “monsters,” “disgusting” and “evil.”

The developers, now in their 70s, said they’ve bent over backwards to accommodate Craig. But because of his public social media callout, Wigaard told The Denver Post, they’re now facing death threats.

“I’m 75 years old, and I’m getting bullied,” Wigaard said. “It’s devastating.”

Weld County public information officer Jennifer Finch said the property is clear for development: “There is no documentation or agreement in place that would prohibit this development from the county side.”

The sprawling Wild Animal Sanctuary, established in 1980, bills itself as the largest carnivore sanctuary in the world. The property features a 1.5-mile elevated walkway so guests can view the hundreds of rescued lions, bears, wolves, tigers and leopards from above “without putting undue pressure on them like zoos and other ground-based displays do,” its website said.

Craig is leery of new neighbors based on the past behavior of folks he said knowingly moved next door to an animal sanctuary and then complained about things like lions roaring at 2 a.m., offensive animal waste smells and copious numbers of birds attracted to the scraps of meat set out for meals.

“We have 21 bald eagles that live here full time, and they can fly down and pick up a little frou-frou dog,” Craig said in an interview. “People are terrified the eagles are going to eat their dogs or cats. Then we have probably 10,000 to 15,000 seagulls. We’ve had people at other properties who would throw parties and beer cans wind up in the bear exhibit. Our concern is for the animals and the future of the animals.”

In 2010, Craig, Wigaard and Smith signed a contract titled “Agreement for PUD Subdivision Conditions,” sealing the deal for the developers to turn the land into a subdivision. Part of the contract, which Craig provided to The Post, states that Craig will have the opportunity to interview potential buyers of the lots prior to any purchase being approved “concerning their knowledge and understanding of a wild animal sanctuary being located next to the subdivision.”

“They must sign a disclaimer stating they are fully aware and in complete acceptance of the sounds, smells, dangers and other potential issues that may exist with a wild animal sanctuary being located adjacent to the subdivision they are choosing to move into,” the contract says.

Craig said he has not been allowed to interview any potential buyers so far.

Wigaard and Smith’s attorney, David Firmin, said that to allow Craig to interview potential owners would be discriminatory. However, the buyers do have to sign a document stating they’re aware of the sanctuary and the possible consequences that come with living next to one.

“We were surprised and saddened to learn of Pat Craig’s social media posts,” Firmin said in a statement. “To the maximum extent possible, Wigaard Smith included all terms contained in the ‘contract’ into the governing documents of the community… Wigaard Smith Estates LLP has taken all steps possible to protect the animals and create a first-class community of eight homes to minimize impact on the animals.”