Large felines are nature’s perfect predators: fast, stealthy, smart, and equipped to win any battle. You may have never seen a mountain lion, but I guarantee that they’ve seen you! Nonetheless, most lions have no need to attack humans.
The lesser carnivores you may see include bobcats, badgers, coyotes, weasels, martens, red foxes, and if you’re extra lucky, the recently reintroduced lynx. There may be traces of gray wolves in northern Colorado. Lynx were believed to be extinct in Colorado by 1973, but a successful reintroduction of 200 cats was initiated in 1999 in the San Juan Mountains. As of 2012, this population seems to be doing well. Wolverines were extirpated in Colorado by the early 1900s, but rare sightings have been reported in the mountains.
Weasels often surprise people by hanging out on the summits of peaks. While they tend to inhabit lower-elevation regions, they may venture high to prey on unsuspecting rodents sheltered in high talus fields. Badgers are low-slung animals that resemble superskunks. I spotted one outside the town of Mancos, an impressive fellow sporting a fashionable gray-and-white coat. Coyotes are masters of adaptation and can live anywhere, from the slums of Los Angeles to the alpine boreal forests of Alaska. It is a special treat to hear the lonesome howl of the coyote echoing in the night—and to hear that howl answered by his fellows far away.
Mountain goats and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep are often confused. Bighorn sheep are masters of the mountain, moving about steep cliffs with fearless ease. These nondomesticated cousins of farm sheep should not be called rams, a term that denotes an uncastrated male sheep. Bighorn sheep are noted for their curled horns, which are used primarily in contests of strength between males during the mating season. By butting their heads with incredible force, they use the “Mike Tyson system” of wooing female mates—brute force. Bighorn sheep are the official state animal of Colorado and the mascot of Colorado State University.
Mountain goats are often snowy white (and keeping those coats clean is no easy task while cavorting on dirty mountaintops). Their name is a bit of a misnomer, as they are more closely related to antelopes than goats. Much like bighorn sheep, they are master rock climbers. On more than one occasion, I’ve seen lines of goats walk effortlessly across rock faces I would rate at least class 4 rock climbing (see section on class ratings). Adult mountain goats weighing 200 pounds can scale 60-degree slopes with ease. With their tufted beards and wise, expressive eyes, they are another species that can be gentle as a lamb or brazen as a bull. Be warned: An angry mountain goat can inflict some serious damage on an unassuming hiker, especially if said hiker is on a narrow ledge. Give them their space, and they will almost always peacefully pass on by.
Yellow-bellied marmots are among the most common critters in the mountains. These beaverlike rodents are charming and cute, but they do have a sinister side. Many have completely lost their fear of humans, boldly rummaging through backpacks or approaching hikers to beg for food. Many a tent has been gnawed through and many a food bag ripped asunder by marmots. Nighttime assaults on tents can be especially annoying, as the persistent pests not only threaten your food, but they can also rob you of precious sleep. Marmots are also quite curious about parked automobiles, and more than one has been known to chew clean through rubber hoses, lured by the sweet scent of brake fluid or antifreeze (both of which are obviously toxic). Marmots can be pesky at times, but the mountains wouldn’t be the same without them.
Pikas are small, grayish, mouselike animals with large ears. They can be seen popping in and out of rocky talus fields, industriously gathering straw and flowers for their dens. No doubt you have heard their trademark “rubber ducky” squeak at one time or another. Their soft gray fur is indicative of their relation to rabbits; they are of the same family. Amazingly, pikas do not hibernate in the winter. Instead, they rely on densely insulated burrows and large reserves of stored food to get them through the cold months. This incredible system makes them one of the elite animals that can actually endure winters above 14,000 feet. Biologists fear pikas may be headed toward extinction as development and pollution encroach on their environment.
Beavers are always hard at work in high-elevation ponds. Beavers that live in higher elevations develop thick and luxuriant coats, a trait that made them appealing to early fur trappers. Salt-loving porcupines are the second-largest rodents in Colorado, behind beavers. River otters were believed extinct in Colorado by 1970, but efforts to reintroduce new populations have been successful, notably along the Dolores, South Platte, and Colorado Rivers. These playful members of the weasel family are a delight to watch as they frolic on riverbanks, tumbling and swimming just for the fun of it. The unmistakable stench of the skunk indicates that they too are out in the mountains. Mink and muskrats round out the smaller water-loving mammals. Like beavers and river otters, they are semiaquatic animals that live on the banks of rivers, ponds, and lakes.
Finally, how can we forget about the little guys? Uinta chipmunks are curious and bold, and too often their cuteness is rewarded with an ill-advised handout of pretzels or peanuts. They need to retain their foraging skills to get them through the winter, so please make a point of not sharing, even if they are agreeable to taking food from your hand. Golden-mantled ground squirrels are often mistaken for chipmunks because they share the same habitats, color schemes, and personalities. An easy way to tell the two apart: Chipmunks have stripes on their furry faces and squirrels do not. A variety of rabbits exist in Colorado. The mountain cottontail is the most common; as a result, these bunnies serve as a food source for coyotes, mountain lions, and other predators. Snowshoe hares are speedy animals whose coats change color with the seasons. The smallest of the mammals include field mice, pocket gophers, and shrews.
On the Wing: Major Birds of the Rocky Mountains
Bird-watching has gone mainstream in the past few years, proving that it’s not only nerdy foreigners in giant Coke-bottle glasses who peep at the life in the sky (which is not to imply that I have ever subscribed to the stereotype that bird-watchers are necessarily nerdy, foreign, or visually impaired!). Birds in the Rocky Mountains are plentiful and come in a delightful array of colors. There are far too many to cover in this brief overview, but I’ll note some of the most prevalent birds you’ll encounter in the mountains. (Bird lovers should check out birding.com/wheretobird/colorado.asp or pick up a copy of Birds of Colorado Field Guide by Stan Tekiela, published by Adventure Publications).
No other bird conveys majesty on the wing quite like the bald eagle. Bald eagles were nearly extinct in the lower US by the early 20th century, but they have made a great comeback, thanks to conservation efforts. (The only American bald eagles born outside of North America in this century were hatched in European zoos.) Today, a healthy population flourishes in Colorado. Females may have a wingspan of 7 feet and are larger than their male counterparts. An interesting bit of eagle trivia: Native Americans are rumored to have set up eagle traps on the summit of Longs Peak, giving strength to the argument that John W. Powell wasn’t the first person to stand atop that fabled 14er. Golden eagles are slightly smaller than bald eagles and have brownish-beige colorings. Incredibly agile in flight, these birds of prey mate for life and are one of the few threats to rodents living above 13,000 feet.
Peregrine falcons prefer cold mountain regions, migrating north to the Arctic and south to the Rockies and other northern American mountain regions. Because they are seasonal visitors, your best chance to see peregrine falcons is during spring and early summer. They are unrivaled as the fastest animals on earth, capable of unleashing a free fall, diving attack that regularly exceeds 200 miles per hour! In this incredible display, called a stoop, the falcon folds its wings, extends the razor-sharp talons on its feet, and plummets at mind-bending speeds toward an unsuspecting bird below. The aim is to damage or completely sheer off a wing (a direct impact would injure both birds). When the disabled prey hits the ground, the falcon descends to finish off the job. If you are fortunate enough to witness a peregrine falcon stoop, the awesome image will remain in your mind for years to come.
Red-tailed hawks are smaller simulacrums of the golden hawk. Whenever you hear the telltale screech of a bird in movies or on TV, chances are that you are hearing the distinct cry of the red-tailed hawk.
Ravens