Prong Horn Antelope grace the Eastern Plains of Colorado. With their distinctive brown and white markings and upward pointing antlers, they are beautiful to see. About the size of a deer, these agile animals can be seen grazing everywhere on the plains. But if they sense danger, just watch them bound away so quickly that if you blink you'll miss them.
Coyotes can be spotted all over the country, but more so out west. Colorado has an abundance of this dog-like animal. They are grey or brown in color and mostly hunt at night. Coyotes travel in packs and communicate with each other by yips and howls, called singing. Some of their "songs" can make your hair stand on end, especially in the middle of the night.
As you travel further west and upward in altitude, mule deer become more numerous. What makes this species of deer so unique is their large ears, hence the name "Mule Deer". Their coats turn grey in winter and tan in summer to blend in with their surroundings in the mountains and forests.
Elk are another variety of wildlife you will see on your travels into the mountains. You can't miss these large, stately animals with their two toned black and brown coats. The males, called bulls, are very impressive with large racks of antlers. The females, or cows, are a little smaller than the bulls but equally impressive even though they do not have antlers.
Timberline and above on top of rock outcroppings, look closely. You may spot a Big Horn Sheep, the state animal of Colorado. The majestic rams with their huge, curled horns are a site to see. You can't mistake them for any other animal. The females, or ewes, do not have horns and you will usually see "the girls" in groups or herds.
Mountain goats gaze down on you from their perches at precarious angles along rocky ridges. Their white coats make them stand out in summer, but you have to look very carefully for them when mountain snows start to fly.
Speaking of fly, you will see some of the most spectacular avian varieties when you visit the Rocky Mountains. Eagles, hawks, falcons soar the skies. Some birds are unlike any you have seen elsewhere in the country. Large Stellar Jays with their dark blue and turquoise feathers, magpies that have black and white plumage and wild canaries stand out in yellow and brown. Robins, sparrows and wrens sing happily from dawn to dusk.
There are many small mammals living in the plains and mountains. Prairie dogs are numerous everywhere, as well as squirrels, chipmunks, pikas and many varieties of mice. One particular species of squirrel I couldn't identify when I first moved to the Colorado Mountains was the Abert Squirrel. This cute guy is the size of a house cat and has large, upward pointing ears with tufts of hair at the ends. Black in color, you will find them frequenting bird feeders and hanging upside down from tree limbs to get at the goodies.
Snowshoe rabbits, beaver, fox, and numerous other critters all reside here in the state.
You will probably never see two of the largest examples of Colorado wildlife, as they only come out at night.
Bears are everywhere in the mountains and forests of the state. Black or brown in color, they forage for food during the summer to hold them over for the winter hibernation. Their search for food has led them into populated areas, going through trash cans or breaking into homes. Bears are normally not dangerous to humans, with the exception being a mother bear with cubs. NEVER go near them. Yes, the cubs are cute, but if you see them, momma is close by and she is dangerous. Turn and walk slowly away.
The mountain lion is also elusive. Almost never having anything to do with humans, they avoid contact with us. It is very rare that a lion will attack a person. The cats hunt at night and any wild or domestic animal is fair game. During the summer months, there is no mistaking their cry (like a house cat growl but magnified 1,000 times). A very scary sound.
So there you have it. Wildlife is everywhere you look when you visit Colorado. Keep your eyes peeled. You never know what you might see.
I have been interested in the old west since I was a kid in the 1950's. When my husband told me we were moving to Colorado, I couldn't believe it.
The state has so much history. I found a wealth of information, lost civilizations, legends, ghost stories, unknown explorers, settlers, ghost towns, etc.
I love living here. History, wildlife and the old west. I'm in heaven.
If you enjoyed this article, please take a look at my website, http://www.explore-old-west-colorado.com. There's more history to discover.
