Colorado Porch

Outdoors · Wildlife

Wildlife & animals you meet in Colorado

Colorado wildlife can be the best part of a drive, a hike, or an ordinary morning in the yard. Give it room, then match your next move to the animal in front of you. Moose, bears, lions, and coyotes do not all call for the same response.

Start here

What brought you here?

Choose the animal or situation in front of you.

True for every animal

The golden rules

1. Give it room

If an animal watches you, moves away, or changes its behavior, back up. Use binoculars or a zoom lens instead of walking closer.

2. Match the animal

The right response is not the same for a moose, bear, lion, or coyote. Read the four short playbooks before a hike.

3. Keep food away

Colorado law bans intentionally feeding deer, elk, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, bears, and mountain lions. Feeding other wildlife can spread disease, draw predators, and make animals bold.

4. Keep dogs close

Use a leash where required and whenever wildlife is near. Dogs can trigger a moose, chase wildlife, or bring a conflict back to you.

5. Leave young wildlife alone

A young animal by itself is often waiting for a parent. Watch from far away, keep dogs back, and call a licensed expert if it is clearly hurt.

6. Report the right problem

Call CPW about dangerous, injured, or illegally taken wildlife. Call a doctor, vet, or public health after a bite, scratch, or possible disease exposure.

The big animals

If you meet one, know the right move

Read this part even if you only hike now and then. The right move is different for each animal, and sometimes it is the exact opposite. Here is the short version to remember.

Get this one right

The response changes with the animal.

Moose

Back away. If it acts aggressive or charges, run and put a tree, boulder, or car between you.

Black bear

Stay calm. Do not run or climb a tree. Give it a way out, back away, and fight back if attacked.

Mountain lion

Face it. Do not run. Look big, pick up small children or pets, back away slowly, and fight back if attacked.

Coyote

Do not run. Get big and loud, throw objects at it, then face it and back away if it stays.

Moose

Calm-looking does not mean tame.

CPW began reintroducing moose in 1978. Moose may tolerate people longer than other wildlife, and they can react strongly to dogs. Ears laid back, raised neck hair, a lowered head, swaying, or licking the snout mean you are too close.

If it confronts you: Back away and give it room. If it acts aggressive or begins to charge, run and put a large object such as a tree, boulder, or car between you.

Black bear

Colorado's only bear species.

A black bear may be black, brown, cinnamon, or blond. Most want a clear way away from people. Food, trash, grills, birdseed, and pet food are the common reasons bears return to homes and camps.

If it confronts you: Stay calm, stand still, and let the bear leave. Do not run, climb a tree, or block its escape. Back away while facing it. If a black bear attacks, fight back and do not play dead.

Mountain lion (cougar)

Quiet, powerful, and rarely seen.

Mountain lions live across much of Colorado, including foothill and mountain communities where deer are common. CPW says attacks on people are rare, but children and pets should stay close in lion country.

If it confronts you: Do not run. Face the lion, speak calmly, look larger, and pick up small children or pets without turning away. Back away slowly. If it acts aggressive, throw objects and speak firmly. Fight back if attacked.

Coyote

At home on the plains, in the mountains, and in town.

Coyotes live in almost every Colorado habitat. Garbage, pet food, compost, and wildlife feeding can make them comfortable near homes. Small pets need close supervision.

The move: Do not run or turn your back. Be big and loud, wave your arms, clap, and throw objects at the coyote. If it does not leave, face it and back away slowly. Report dangerous behavior to CPW.

Elk and deer

Common does not mean safe to approach.

Elk and deer often appear calm, even in town. Bulls and bucks can become defensive during the fall rut, and females protect young in spring. They also move across roads in groups.

The move: Give them room, keep dogs back, and do not step between an adult and its young. If an animal faces you, lowers its head, pins its ears, or changes its behavior, leave more space.

Bighorn sheep and mountain goats

Similar cliffs, different Colorado stories.

Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep are native and are Colorado's state animal. Mountain goats were introduced to Colorado in the 1940s. Both use steep, rocky country and may gather around natural or human-made salt sources.

The move: Watch from a distance and do not block a trail or crowd an animal at a mineral lick, roadside, or parking area.

Pronghorn

The pale, fast runner of open country.

Pronghorn, often called antelope, are a familiar sight on the eastern plains and in western sagebrush. Fences and roads can interrupt their movement across wide country.

The move: Watch from the road or another established viewing spot. Do not stop in a travel lane or walk out across private land for a closer photo.

Bison

Large, fast, and best watched from the vehicle.

You can see managed bison herds at places such as Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge and Denver's mountain parks. A grazing bison can change direction quickly.

If it confronts you: Stay in your vehicle where the site tells you to, obey posted distances, and do not walk toward a bison for a photo.

Fox, bobcat & lynx

Three quiet neighbors people often mix up.

Foxes live in both rural and urban areas. Bobcats are small, spotted wild cats with short tails. Canada lynx are rare, federally protected cats of high, snowy forests.

Protected. Leave it alone: Do not feed or follow them. Keep small pets close and report a sick, injured, or unusually bold animal to CPW.

Wolves

Back in Colorado and protected.

Colorado voters approved wolf restoration in 2020, and state releases began in 2023. CPW maintains current wolf information and an activity map. Wolf locations and legal status are details to confirm on the live CPW page.

Protected. Leave it alone: Do not approach, corner, chase, or shoot a wolf. Keep dogs away. If one stays close, face it, back away slowly, and follow CPW's current encounter guidance.

Hiking with kids in lion country

Keep children close and in the middle of the group. Do not let them run ahead or lag behind. If you meet a lion, pick up a small child without turning your back or crouching for long. Face the lion, look big, speak firmly, and back away slowly.

When your dog tangles with wildlife

Three times to call the vet

Porcupine quills

Quills can break and can be hard to remove safely, especially around the face or mouth. Keep the dog calm and call a veterinarian for removal advice.

Rattlesnake bite

Treat it as a veterinary emergency. Move away from the snake, keep the dog quiet, and call the nearest emergency veterinarian. Do not use ice, cut the bite, or apply a tourniquet.

Skunk spray

Rinse irritated eyes with plenty of clean water and call a veterinarian if pain, redness, or squinting continues. Spray alone is not the same as a bite, but direct contact or a fight should be assessed by a vet.

The little guys

The small critters

These are the animals you may notice around a trail, campsite, neighborhood, or rock pile.

Marmots and pikas

Marmots are the big whistlers around talus and alpine meadows. Pikas are their much smaller, round-eared neighbors in rock piles. Watch without feeding or trying to draw them closer.

Prairie dogs

These social rodents build towns across the plains. Avoid contact with them and their fleas. A sudden die-off can be a sign of plague and should be reported to local public health.

Chipmunks and ground squirrels

They learn quickly where hikers drop snacks. Do not hand-feed them. A close animal can bite, and crowded feeding spots can spread disease.

Porcupines

They usually avoid people, but a curious dog can come home with a face full of quills. Keep dogs close and call a veterinarian rather than trying a complicated removal yourself.

Raccoons and skunks

Secure trash and give both animals space. Skunks are one of Colorado's main rabies reservoirs. If a person or pet has direct contact with either animal, call a doctor, vet, or public health.

Bats

Bats eat insects, but they are also a main rabies reservoir in Colorado. Never handle one. Direct contact, or waking to a bat in the room, is a reason to call a medical provider or public health for an exposure check.

Birds you'll notice

Colorado has hundreds of bird species. These are a few groups you are likely to notice.

Snakes, spiders & bugs

Rattlesnakes

Colorado has three rattlesnake species. The prairie rattlesnake is the one most people meet. The midget-faded rattlesnake lives in parts of western Colorado, and the massasauga lives in the southeast. A rattlesnake usually wants room to leave. A bite is a medical emergency.

The harmless look-alike

The bullsnake (gopher snake) can look like a rattlesnake and may flatten its head or shake its tail, but it does not have venom. If you're not sure what kind of snake it is, just back away and leave it alone.

Spiders

Ticks, mosquitoes & bees

Stay healthy

Wildlife diseases to know

Wild animals can carry illnesses that pass to people and pets. The simple prevention plan is to avoid contact, control fleas and ticks on pets, and get professional advice after a possible exposure.

Rabies

Bats and skunks are Colorado's main rabies reservoirs. Rabies spreads mainly through bites and infected saliva. Call a health care provider and local public health after a bite, scratch, direct bat contact, or waking to a bat in the room. A veterinarian should assess pet contact.

Plague

Plague is uncommon but present in Colorado. Infected fleas and contact with infected rodents can spread it. Keep pets away from prairie-dog towns and dead rodents, use veterinarian-approved flea control, and report a sudden rodent die-off to local public health.

Hantavirus

Deer-mouse urine and droppings can carry hantavirus. Air out closed cabins or sheds before cleaning. Wet droppings with disinfectant and wipe them up. Do not dry-sweep or vacuum contaminated dust.

West Nile virus

Mosquitoes can spread West Nile virus in Colorado. Use repellent, wear covering clothing when mosquitoes are active, repair screens, and empty standing water around the home.

Ticks and tularemia

Ticks can spread Colorado tick fever, tularemia, and other illnesses. Tularemia can also spread through contact with infected rabbits or rodents. Use repellent, check people and pets after a hike, and avoid handling sick or dead wildlife.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD)

CWD affects deer, elk, moose, and related animals. CDC says it has not been shown to infect people, but advises hunters not to eat meat from an animal that tests positive. Follow current CPW testing guidance for the hunt area.

If you're bitten or scratched

Wash the wound well with soap and running water. Then contact a health care provider and local public health promptly so they can assess infection and rabies risk. Report direct bat contact, or waking to a bat in the room, even if you cannot see a bite. Do not handle or try to capture a wild animal yourself. Call animal control or public health for safe testing instructions.

This is general information, not medical advice. For a real bite, scratch, or exposure, call 911 or your doctor, vet, or county or state health department right away.

The wildlife laws

The practical rule is simple: enjoy wildlife without feeding, keeping, chasing, or collecting it. A few details matter.

The spring rule everyone needs

Don't rescue baby animals

A young animal alone can look helpless when it is behaving normally. Your best first move is to step back.

  • A fawn or other young mammal by itself is usually not abandoned. Adults often leave young hidden while they feed.
  • What to do: leave it where it is, move people and dogs away, and watch only from far enough away that a parent can return.
  • If it is clearly injured or in immediate danger: call CPW or a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before touching, feeding, or moving it.
  • Feathered baby bird on the ground: it may be a fledgling learning to fly while its parents care for it. Keep pets away and leave it alone unless a licensed rehabilitator advises otherwise.

Wildlife on the road

Slow down and scan both shoulders, especially around dawn, dusk, forests, farm country, and signed wildlife areas. Watch for shining eyes at night and expect another animal after the first one crosses. Obey every wildlife and speed sign.

If you hit wildlife: get yourself and the vehicle out of the travel lane if you can do so safely, turn on the hazard lights, and do not approach an injured animal. CPW directs drivers to report wildlife-vehicle collisions to the Colorado State Patrol. Call *CSP (*277) or 911 when there is an emergency.

Roadkill salvage has a legal process. Colorado allows possession of edible portions of road-killed wildlife only with one of the authorizations listed in the current CPW rule. A person seeking a donation certificate must notify CPW or another authorized agency within 48 hours, and may need to present the animal for inspection. Call before loading anything, and do not let salvage create a second road hazard.

Wildlife at home (yards, trash & pets)

Many home conflicts begin with food or shelter an animal can reach. Start by removing the reward.

The fun part

Where to see wildlife

Some of the best places to watch Colorado's animals, often right from your car. A few need reservations or have seasonal access, so check before you go.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Look for elk in open valleys and bighorn sheep, moose, marmots, and pikas in the right habitat. Use the park's current wildlife, closure, road, and reservation pages before the drive.

State Forest State Park and Walden

North Park is dependable moose country, and Walden is Colorado's official Moose Viewing Capital. Check CPW for current park access, trails, and wildlife guidance.

Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge

The refuge near Denver has a wildlife drive and opportunities to see bison, deer, coyotes, prairie dogs, raptors, and water birds. Follow refuge road and bison-viewing rules.

Monte Vista and Alamosa National Wildlife Refuges

These San Luis Valley refuges are important places for seasonal sandhill crane viewing and many other birds. Check the refuge pages for current viewing areas and access.

Genesee Park and Daniels Park

Denver maintains bison herds in these mountain parks. Use signed overlooks and roads, and check Denver Parks for current access rather than walking toward the herd.

Pawnee National Grassland

The northeastern plains offer pronghorn, raptors, and grassland birds. Check the Forest Service for current road conditions, closures, and seasonal protections.

A good viewing habit: bring binoculars or a zoom lens and use signed pullouts. Stay in the vehicle where the site directs you to. Do not bait, call, or crowd an animal for a photo. If the animal changes what it is doing because of you, add distance.

A few details that explain Colorado wildlife

Colorado quirks

Things people get wrong

The small details that keep people and wildlife safer.

A moose charge has different rules

Do not use the bear or lion playbook. CPW says to run and place a large object between you and an aggressive or charging moose.

Colorado has black bears, not grizzlies

Black bears come in several colors. If one attacks, CPW says to fight back. Do not use the play-dead advice meant for some grizzly encounters.

Mountain goats were introduced

Bighorn sheep are native and are Colorado's state animal. Mountain goats were introduced beginning in the 1940s.

A bullsnake can put on a show

A bullsnake may flatten its head and shake its tail. If you cannot identify a snake with confidence, give it room and leave it alone.

A bat in the bedroom deserves a call

Bat bites can be hard to see. If you wake to a bat in the room, call a medical provider or local public health so they can decide whether it counts as an exposure.

A fawn alone is usually doing what fawns do

Adult deer often leave young hidden while they feed. Step away so the parent feels safe returning, and call CPW before trying to help.

The feeding law names big game

Colorado prohibits intentionally feeding deer, elk, pronghorn, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, mountain lions, and bears. Feeding other wildlife is still harmful and may be restricted locally.

Roadkill salvage has paperwork

Colorado allows possession of edible portions of some road-killed wildlife only through the state's authorization process. Call CPW or an authorized agency before loading an animal.

Wildlife is not a pet category

Colorado generally prohibits taking native wildlife home. Narrow licenses and lists create exceptions, so a species-specific question belongs with CPW.

Most native bird parts stay where you found them

Federal law generally protects the feathers, parts, or nests of native birds. Unless you know a legal exception applies, photograph the find and leave it.

For the trail

Quick safety checklist

  • Space: do not approach; if it reacts to you, back off.
  • Playbook: know the separate moose, bear, lion, and coyote responses.
  • Dog: use a leash where required and keep the dog close around wildlife.
  • Food: secure snacks, trash, coolers, birdseed, and pet food.
  • Hands and feet: watch rocky and grassy spots for rattlesnakes.
  • No touching: leave young, sick, injured, and dead wildlife alone.
  • Afterward: check people and pets for ticks.
  • Contacts: save CPW at 303-297-1192, Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222, and 911 for an immediate emergency.

The jargon, decoded

The words you'll see everywhere

A little wildlife vocabulary.

CPW

Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the state agency that manages wildlife and wildlife rules.

Rut

The mating season for animals such as elk and deer. Adults can be more defensive then.

Calving or fawning season

The time when animals give birth and adults may strongly defend young.

Hazing

Using noise, size, or another approved deterrent to make a bold coyote leave and stay wary of people.

Bear spray

A large canister of pepper spray made for wildlife defense. Learn how to use it, keep it reachable, and follow the label.

Zoonotic disease

An illness that can pass between animals and people, such as rabies or plague.

Wildlife rehabilitator

A person or facility licensed to care for injured or orphaned wildlife for release back to the wild.

Donation certificate

The CPW authorization that makes it legal to take home edible portions of road-killed big game. Requires notifying CPW within 48 hours.

Native vs. introduced

A native animal occurred here historically. An introduced animal was brought to the state by people.

Habituated

Used to people. A habituated animal may stop keeping a normal, safe distance.

FAQ

Quick answers

A bear, lion, moose, or coyote is close. What do I do?

The response changes by animal. Moose: back away; if it acts aggressive or charges, run and put a tree, boulder, or car between you. Black bear: stay calm, do not run or climb, give it an escape route, back away, and fight back if attacked. Mountain lion: face it, do not run, look big, pick up small children or pets, back away slowly, and fight back if attacked. Coyote: do not run; get big and loud, throw objects at it, then face it and back away if it stays. Call 911 for immediate danger and report a dangerous encounter to CPW.

I found a baby animal. Should I help it?

Usually, no. Adult animals often leave young in a safe place while they feed. Leave the animal where it is, move people and dogs away, and watch only from a distance. If it has a clear injury or is in immediate danger, call CPW or a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before touching or moving it.

Can I feed wildlife?

Do not feed wildlife. Colorado law prohibits intentionally feeding deer, elk, pronghorn, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, mountain lions, and bears. Feeding other wildlife can crowd animals, spread disease, attract predators, and make animals too comfortable near people. Local rules may be stricter.

How do I know when I am too close?

If an animal stops feeding, watches you, moves away, raises its head, pins its ears, or otherwise changes what it is doing, increase the distance. Use binoculars or a zoom lens and obey every posted distance or closure. A vehicle can be a good viewing place when the site allows it.

Could I catch something from wildlife?

It is possible, so avoid touching wild animals, alive or dead. Bats and skunks are Colorado's main rabies reservoirs. Rodents and fleas can spread plague, and deer-mouse droppings can carry hantavirus. After a bite, scratch, direct bat contact, or waking to a bat in the room, call a health care provider and local public health. Call a veterinarian after pet contact.

Can I take home a road-killed elk or deer?

Possibly, but not just by loading it. Colorado requires authorization for edible portions of road-killed wildlife, such as a prior letter, permit, donation certificate, or tag. The current rule includes a 48-hour notice process for a donation certificate, and the animal may need inspection. Get off the road safely and call CPW or an authorized agency before taking possession.

The official signpost

Where the real guidance lives

CPW controls wildlife guidance and rules. Health professionals and public-health agencies assess bites and disease exposure. The land manager controls access at a viewing site. Match the source to the question in front of you.

Use this carefully: Animal behavior is unpredictable, and the response changes by species. Use this page to get oriented, then follow CPW's current animal-specific guidance. Call 911 for immediate danger. After a bite, scratch, direct bat contact, or other possible disease exposure, contact a health care provider, veterinarian, or local public-health agency promptly. Access, closures, wolf activity, and health advisories can change.

Next steps

Branch out from wildlife into Colorado

Watching animals is half the fun of being here. Here is where to read more, plan a trip, and go find the wild places.