It is illegal to feed, pet, hunt, cpature, or bother wildlife in any way. While some animals seem accustomed to people, they are wild and may cause injury. The water is exceptionally cold, and the current is deceptively strong. Don't risk it. Giardia lamblia , a tiny protozoan, flourishes everywhere in the streams and lakes of the Rockies, so don't drink from them.
Giardiasis causes diarhea, cramps, and bloating.
Carry adequate water and, on longer excursions, boil all water taken from streams and lakes for 10 minutes. It takes several days to adjust to the elevation change, but symptoms can be minimized by resting, eating lightly, drinking more fluids, avoiding cigarettes and alcohol, and limiting strenuous activity. Hyperthermia occurs when you are so chilled that your body can no longer warm itself. This can happen even when you are tired and wet on a chilly summer day. Warning signals are shivering and disorientation.