Elk and bighorn sheep share the Jeffco foothills with people

Two of Colorado’s big animals turn up in Jefferson County’s foothills. Elk graze the meadows and hillsides, often in herds, and bighorn sheep work the rocky canyons and slopes. You may see them from open space trails, from canyon roads, or even at the edge of foothills neighborhoods.

Bighorn sheep in Colorado stick to foothills, canyons, and high country. One of the best-known viewing spots, the Georgetown herd, sits just west along I-70, but sheep range across this whole stretch of mountains. Elk are easier to find and are most active in the cooler hours.

The watching rule is the same for both: keep your distance. Colorado Parks and Wildlife asks people not to approach or feed wild animals. A bull elk in the fall mating season, or a cow elk with a calf in spring, can be dangerous, and a startled animal near a road is a crash risk. Use binoculars or a zoom lens instead of stepping closer. Never feed them, since fed animals lose their fear and can become a hazard.

If you are driving canyon roads like US 6 or Bear Creek Road at dawn or dusk, slow down, because elk and deer cross there and a collision is serious.

For wildlife viewing tips and the rules on keeping your distance, see Colorado Parks and Wildlife.