The Rocky Mountains run approximately 3000 miles from British Columbia in northwest Canada to New Mexico. The Colorado Rockies are home to the range's highest peaks and most dramatic elevation changes that support a wide collection of mammals, birds and fish from the 6,000' front range slopes to 53 peaks over 14,000'. Click here to see Wildflowers of the Rockies.

Mountain Goat occupy the Rockies' highest peaks and ridges, where they face little natural predation

Bighorn Sheep rams can exceed 250 lbs, with horns accounting for up to 10% of total body weight

Colorado's moose population has grown rapidly in recent years, reproducing successfully amid the absence of wolves and grizzlies

Bull Elk emit musky odors and bugle loudly to attract mates and intimidate rivals; the word 'rut' is derived from a Latin word meaning roar

There's an estimated 16,000 - 18,000 black bears in Colorado, with higher concentrations in the eastern foothills, central Rockies and San Juan range

Coyotes are found throughout the Rockies, and are among its most adaptable inhabitants - including diet, habitat, mating habits and socialization

Great Horned Owls are found in a greater variety of habitats than any other owl, and are particularly numerous on the Rockies' eastern slope

Bald Eagles are found throughout the Rockies, usually near large lakes and rivers where fish are most abundant

Beyond geographic and ecological differences, the most salient distinctions between mule deer and whitetail deer are the size of their ears, tail color, and antler growth patterns

There are 7 native and at last 4 exotic fish in Rocky Mountain NP; cold water and natural migration barriers render most Park waters naturally fishless

Red fox are highly adaptable animals with a non-discrimate diet; they'll eat squirrel, mice, rabbits, birds, insects and snakes

Bobcat reach 32–37" in length, and are similar looking to but smaller than their larger, high-elevation cousin, the Lynx

Ptarmigan are the smallest members of the grouse family, found throughout the alpine tundra of the Central Rockies

Marmots are the largest members of Colorado's ground squirrel family; they can grow over 2' long and weigh over 11 lbs

Kestrels are North America's smallest falcon species, concentrated along the foothills and across the eastern plains

Dusky Grouse (formerly known as blue grouse) are the second largest grouse in North America

There are at least 7 subspecies of Canada Geese, though all display very similar traits

Though Prairie Rattlesnakes primarily inhabit the lower foothills and plains, they can surprise you over 7,000'

Bull Snakes are not poisonous, but can reach 8' in length - one of the lower 48s' longest snakes

About a dozen hawk species inhabit Colorado, most favoring the plains but not uncommon at higher elevations

Not every part of the snowshoe hare changes color throughout the year, though all are identifiable by their black ear tips

Female Elk typically form large herds at high elevations through the peak of summer, where they can avoid most predators

During the autumn rut, mature bull elk amass small harems and aggressively defend their claim

Turkeys can reach land speeds of 18 mph and glide for a mile without flapping their wings

Bighorn sheep have a complex 9-stage digestive process that enables them to maximize lower quality food

Mountain Goat have cloven hooves with a hard outer shell and soft, flexible inner pads and slip-stopping dewclaws that provide exceptional grip and balance

Marmots are versatile, ranging 5,000' - 13,000' with a flexible diet determined by its geographic location and elevation

Great Horned Owl chicks begin 'branching' at about 6 weeks but usually can't fly for the first 3 months

Prairie Dogs are critical to the foothills and plains ecosystems, where dozens of mammals and birds rely on them and their burrows for food and shelter

Mule deer eyes are located on the sides of their head, affording a 300-310 degree view

Moose are primarily browsers, meaning they procure food from leaves and stems (vs. grazers, that feed on ground level vegetation like grass)

Recently recognized as a distinct species, male Dusky Grouse are larger than their Blue Grouse cousins

Pelicans in Colorado? You bet. American White Pelicans are relative newcomers to however; they first arrived in the 1960s

Bighorn ewes isolate themselves prior to giving birth; newborn lambs weigh 8-10 lbs and can walk within hours of birth

In Colorado, Great Blue Herons nest primarily along rivers and large bodies of water up to 9,000'