Rocky
Mountain National Park is
home to 250 types of birds and 60 species of animals.
Even though some of these are not easily seen, they
are all necessary to the park's life cycle. The amazing
diversity of animal life is due to the unique range
of environments in the park. With the protection of
the trees in the lower elevations and the harshness
of the alpine tundra, the wildlife here has been well
protected over the years. Rocky Mountain is home to
species making a come-back after tragedy struck this
beautiful environment.
Big
Horn Sheep, the symbol of
the state of Colorado, is the most popular of the mammals
found in the park. Unfortunately, a few years ago you
wouldn't be able to see these majestic creatures in
the lower elevations, but thanks to many contributing
factors, the big horn sheep are now frequently spotted
in many areas of the park.
Wapiti,
or elk, are found in abundance
throuhgout the park. During the summer months, most
of the elk herd lives high in the mountains, and migrate
to the lower meadows in the fall. During the mating
season, or rut, the bull elk bugle a combination of
shrill whistles and grunts as they attract harems. Bugling
usually occurs during the dawn hours or around sunset.
The
moose by nature is recluse
and it takes luck to spot one. The largest of the deer
family, this animal reaches heights of more than six
feet. The moose generally return to the same winter
feeding grounds year after year, but they wander during
the summer and rarely travel in more than groups of
three. With antlers growing up to 80 inches wide, these
large mammals can also become very furious during the
mating season.
The
black bear's name can be misleading as it
can have color ranging from black to blonde. the black
bear is rarely seen in the park. With an abundance of
natural food, the black bear, numbering about 30 in
the park, is rarely seen.
Other
animals in the park:
Beaver
Coyote
Mountain Lion
Bobcat
Mountain Bluebird
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Peregrine Falcon
Colorado Chipmunk
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
