Colorado Porch

Tag

wildlife viewing

24 Porch Notes tagged “wildlife viewing,” from counties across Colorado.

Outdoors and wildfire - Grand County

Grand County is moose country, and moose deserve real distance

Moose are common in the willows and wetlands of Grand County, and they can be dangerous up close, especially around dogs.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Clear Creek County

The Georgetown bighorn herd is easy to watch from the highway

A well-known herd of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep lives on the slopes between Georgetown and Silver Plume, but the Georgetown State Wildlife Area that protects them has seasonal access limits.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Rio Blanco County

Rio Blanco County sits in White River elk country

The White River valley supports a major Colorado elk herd, which shapes hunting seasons, fall driving, and even fences and crops on local ranches.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Yuma County

Spring booming grounds: greater prairie-chickens in the Yuma County sandhills

The sandhills of northern and central Yuma County hold greater prairie-chickens that gather on spring leks to perform a booming courtship display.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Mineral County

Moose, elk, and bighorn sheep all share the Creede high country

The forest around Creede holds elk, introduced moose, and bighorn sheep, and knowing where and how to watch them safely makes for better viewing and fewer surprises on the road or trail.

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Outdoors and wildfire - El Paso County

Bighorn sheep on the rocks west of Colorado Springs

Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep live in the steep, rocky country of the Pikes Peak region west of Colorado Springs, and they are best watched from a distance.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Jefferson County

Elk and bighorn sheep share the Jeffco foothills with people

Elk and bighorn sheep live in Jefferson County's foothills and canyons, and the rule for watching either one is to keep your distance and never feed them.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Routt County

North Routt is moose country, and moose deserve a wide berth

The willow bottoms and forests of north Routt County around the Elk River and Steamboat Lake are good places to see moose, which are large and can be dangerous up close.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Conejos County

Sandhill cranes pass through the San Luis Valley each spring and fall

Tens of thousands of sandhill cranes stop in the San Luis Valley during spring and fall migration, best viewed at dawn and dusk from nearby wildlife refuges and state wildlife areas.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Jackson County

Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge sits in the valley south of Walden

The Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge protects high-mountain wetlands and sagebrush south of Walden, with a self-guided auto tour route and a short nature trail for watching birds and other wildlife.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Gilpin County

Moose and other big animals along Gilpin County's Peak to Peak corridor

Moose have expanded into the high country around Gilpin County's Peak to Peak corridor, and they deserve far more distance and caution than people expect.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Jefferson County

Watch Yellowstone-descended bison from the I-70 overlook at Genesee

Genesee Park keeps a small bison herd descended from Yellowstone stock, viewable free from overlooks just off I-70 west of Denver.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Larimer County

In fall, give elk room near Estes Park and watch for meadow closures

Each fall, bull elk gather and bugle in the meadows around Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park, and the park closes several meadows to off-trail foot travel from late afternoon through mid-morning while asking visitors to keep a safe distance.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Sedgwick County

Sedgwick Bar State Wildlife Area sits right on the South Platte River

This riverside State Wildlife Area in Sedgwick County offers fishing, hunting, and wildlife viewing along the South Platte, but it runs on State Wildlife Area rules, not park rules.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Chaffee County

Spotting Chaffee County's bighorn sheep on the high cliffs

Bighorn sheep live on the rocky slopes and canyons around Chaffee County, and a few simple habits help you enjoy the sight while keeping the animals healthy.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Logan County

Tamarack Ranch is Logan County's riverside wildlife area

Tamarack Ranch State Wildlife Area takes in a long stretch of the South Platte River corridor east of Sterling, open for wildlife viewing, hunting, and fishing under Colorado Parks and Wildlife rules.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Lake County

The Leadville fish hatchery is a trailhead for hikes and wildlife watching

The grounds of the Leadville National Fish Hatchery double as a trailhead, with named trails climbing toward the Mount Massive Wilderness and good odds of seeing elk, deer, and birds.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Adams County

You can watch wild bison from your car at the Arsenal refuge

Rocky Mountain Arsenal refuge in Commerce City has a bison herd and an 11-mile Wildlife Drive, with a firm rule to stay in your vehicle near the bison.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Garfield County

Glenwood Canyon's cliffs are classic bighorn sheep country

The steep walls of Glenwood Canyon in Garfield County are the kind of terrain Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep favor — so it is worth looking up from the trail or pullouts, and keeping your distance if you spot one.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Larimer County

Bighorn sheep cross the road at Sheep Lakes in Rocky Mountain National Park

Bighorn sheep come down to Sheep Lakes in Horseshoe Park to lick mineral-rich mud, and the park manages a crossing area so the animals can reach it safely across the road.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Hinsdale County

Moose now live in the high country near Lake City

Moose were brought to the upper Rio Grande region that includes Hinsdale County, and these large animals deserve plenty of space and quiet respect.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Pueblo County

Bald eagles winter along the Arkansas River at Pueblo

Bald eagles gather along the open water of the Arkansas River and Lake Pueblo in winter, making the cold months a good time for respectful eagle watching near the city.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Weld County

The Pawnee Bird Tour is a self-guided drive across the grassland

The Pawnee Bird Tour is a marked self-guided driving route on grassland county roads in Weld County, built around the area's well-known birdlife.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Denver County

Denver keeps a bison herd you can see from I-70 at Genesee

The City and County of Denver maintains a small bison herd at Genesee Park, visible from Interstate 70 in the foothills west of the city.

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