Animal Life (continued)

GUIDE TO MAMMAL OBSERVATION

Hoofed Animals

Bighorn (mountain sheep)—Best seen on Sheep Rock south of Poudre Lake; less often at Sheep Lake, Shipler and Specimen Mountains, and Hallett's Peak.

Deer, mule—Occasional in open pine country, especially early and late. Hillside above Camp Woods, Moraine Museum, Trail Ridge, and Grand Lake Valley.

Elk, Rocky Mountain—At the timberline on Trail Ridge and near Lawn Lake during summer; occasionally in Hallowell and Horseshoe Parks during bad weather. Large herds in lower meadows from October to April.

Predators

Badger—Occasional in Moraine Park.

Bears, black—Uncommon, sometimes around garbage areas at lodges, especially on Grand Lake side and South St. Vrain Highway.

Bobcat—Uncommon, but in ravine country, especially at lower elevations.

Coyote—Hallowell Park, lower Cub Lake Valley, Moraine Park, lower Beaver Meadows; signs on Deer and Specimen Mountains.

Fox, red—Rare at or above timberline.

Lion, mountain—Rare, but might be seen above Loch Vale, Horseshoe Park, upper Fall River Valley; typical habitat around Gem Lake.

Marten—Occasional at Bear Lake, Haiyaha, Fern-Odessa Trail, Lulu City; usually in spruce-fir forest.

Mink—Occasional along higher waterways and lakes like Haiyaha.

Weasel—Occasionally seen above timberline on Trail Ridge at Rock Cabins and Rock Cut; and in woodpiles in lower meadows.

Rodents and Rabbits

Beaver—Workings along Glacier Creek near Sprague's Lodge, in Hallowell Park, west end of Moraine Park, Grand Lake Valley. Seen early or late in the day.

Chipmunk—Common everywhere in rocky country, especially on Trail Ridge and Gem Lake Trail.

Marmot—Common everywhere in rocky country, especially on lower Cub Lake Trail.

Mouse, meadow—Runs common in grassland like Hallowell, Moraine, and Horseshoe Parks; mice sometimes seen in daylight.

Mouse, red-backed—Uncommon in moist spruce-fir forest.

Mouse, white-footed—Common everywhere at night, often seen running across road or heard in cabins and tents.

Mouse, jumping—Uncommon, but sometimes seen hopping across roads in spruce-fir country.

Muskrat—Often seen at twilight in Sheep Lake and nearby ponds, also in old beaver ponds along lower Cub Lake Trail.

Pika—Fairly common in rockpiles at Rock Cut on Trail Ridge, along trail on Flattop, above Bear Lake Lodge, Longs Peak Boulder Field.

Pocket gopher, western—Piled diggings evident in most grassland, especially in high country.

Porcupine—Common in ponderosa and lodgepole forests; often encountered on Bear Lake and Grand Lake Highways at night. Dens in rocks.

Rabbit, cottontail—Fairly common in rocky areas, especially along Gem Lake Trail.

Rabbit, snowshoe—Occasional in Spruce-fir forests and down to about 8,500 feet. Common around Phantom Valley Ranch.

Rabbit, white-tailed jack—Uncommon above timberline on Trail Ridge.

Squirrel, pine—Fairly common in spruce-fir forest, especially around Bierstadt Lake, Cub Lake, Brinwood to Pool, upper Hidden Valley, Wild Basin, and lower Lawn Lake Trail.

Squirrel, Say's ground—Common everywhere in rocky country, especially on Trail Ridge, at Bear Lake, and along lower Cub Lake Trail.

Squirrel, tuft-eared—Occasional in ponderosa pines at Sheep Lake, Camp Woods, and Gem Lake Trail.

Squirrel, Wyoming ground—Common everywhere in grassland at middle elevations, especially Moraine Park and Estes parkland.