11 animals not commonly seen in Colorado
Compared to the frequent sightings of bears, elk, and deer, here are 11 animals that are not typically spotted in Colorado.
A ringtail. File photo. Photo Credit: SaguaroNPS (Flickr)
1. Ringtail
A nocturnal species, the ringtail is a small, secretive creature that weighs about 3 pounds with a ring-patterned tail of 12-17 inches long - nearly half their body length. The ringtail is an extremely agile climber that uses its tail to balance, capable of rotating their feet 180-degrees to climb in any direction. Ringtails are commonly seen in desert areas of southwestern states but have also been spotted in the foothills of Colorado’s Front Range and canyons of the Western Slope.
Photo Credit: SaguaroNPS (Flickr).
Calliope Hummingbird - Male (Photo) Credit BirdImages (iStock)
2. Calliope Hummingbird
Eleven species of hummingbirds have been reported in Colorado with the Broad-tail Hummingbird being most common to see. However, one of the smallest birds in the world, the Calliope Hummingbird, can also be spotted in Colorado. The Calliope has a “hunched” posture, a short tail, and short wings that barely extend past the end of the tail. Males feature a distinct magenta coloring on the throat. Calliope Hummingbirds breed in mountain meadows, aspen thickets near streams, and open forests that are regenerating from a forest fire or logging.
Photo Credit: BirdImages (iStock).
Badger Digging Out Den (Photo) Credit gatito33 (iStock)
3. Badger
While easy to identify, badgers are typically only seen in the open country of Colorado. Badgers create oval burrows in grasslands of the eastern plans and shrubbery of western valleys. This not commonly seen animal is identified by its flattened, oval-shaped head, brownish fur, a distinctive white stripe on the forehead, bulky build, and large front claws. Badgers eat burrowing rodents, like ground squirrels and pocket gophers, and are typically spotted during evenings and very early mornings. They are known to have an “unpleasant” disposition.
Photo Credit: gatito33 (iStock).
Ord’s Kangaroo Rat (Photo) Credit National Park Service via Wikipedia Creative Commons
4. Ord’s Kangaroo Rat
One of the smallest mammals in Colorado is the Ord’s Kangaroo Rat. At 11 inches long and up to 2.5 ounces, the Kangaroo Rat can be hard to spot. The animal’s tail is longer than its entire body, which features yellow and red shades with a white belly. The hind feet are relatively huge when compared to the rest of its body and the front paws are dainty. Kangaroo Rats can be spotted at night in sandy areas like the San Luis Valley. They can jump up to 6 inches high and 6 feet away. In mid-air, the Kangaroo Rat can use its tail to change directions.
Photo Credit: National Park Service via Wikipedia Creative Commons.
River Otter (Photo) Credit Chancey Bush, The Gazette.
5. River Otter
River Otters are thriving in Colorado but are extremely difficult to keep tags on, even for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Otters in Colorado are playful and depend on healthy water habitats. They are a top river predator, feeding on fish. River Otters have long bodies with short legs and a short snout. They have small, round ears with dark brown fur and can weigh between 15 and 25 pounds. Their tail is thick and muscular, tapering toward the end. Have you seen a River Otter in Colorado? Let CPW know by reporting your sighting here.
Photo Credit: Chancey Bush, The Gazette.
Snapping Turtle (Photo) Credit milehightraveler (iStock)
6. Snapping Turtle
Colorado is home to 70 amphibian and reptile species. One species you may not know is in Colorado is the Snapping Turtle. This turtle features a hard shell that is often covered with mud or algae because they frequent ponds, steams, and lakes in the lowlands of eastern Colorado. Be careful of its bite. The Snapping Turtle has strong jaws that can cause a painful, lacerating bite.
Photo Credit: milehightraveler (iStock).
Skink (Photo) Credit: David Morimoto Flickr
7. Many-lined Skink
The Many-lined Skink in Colorado is “secretive” and hard to find in most areas, but have made habitats throughout the state, Colorado Parks and Wildlife reports. A skink is a reptile that resembles a snake and features very small limbs. In east Colorado, the Many-lined Skink has pale gray skin with bold, dark stripes. In west Colorado, skinks are light to dark olive-brown with two dark-edged white stripes along the back. They can be found in the plains grasslands in eastern Colorado and in rocky grass slopes of forested areas in west Colorado.
Credit: David Morimoto (Flickr).
Pine Marten in Colorado (Photo) Credit: NPS/Eric Johnston Flickr
8. Pine Marten
Rarely spotted in Colorado, Pine Marten live in areas where spruce-fir and lodgepole pine trees are mature. Martens are brown with a pale yellowish-brown underneath. Martens are mostly nocturnal. Believe it or not, only 30 observations of the marten in Colorado have been reported to the United States Forest Service since 1991.
Credit: NPS/Eric Johnston (Flickr)
Sage-Grouse (Photo) Credit: Intermountain Region US Forest Service Flickr
9. Sage-Grouse
Consider this species a sort of pufferfish among birds. During spring, the male Sage-Grouse congregate in fields of sagebrush (called a lek) where they can be seen puffing their chests and strutting their stuff to impress potential mates. Colorado is one of 11 western states the sage-grouse is found in with efforts being made to manage and protect the species.
Credit: Intermountain Region US Forest Service (Flickr)
Short-Horned Lizard (Photo) Credit DPFishCo (iStock)
10. Short-Horned Lizard
The Short-horned Lizard is one species you might not think of when looking at a list of wildlife in Colorado. This lizard is found throughout the eastern plains, Front Range, San Luis Valley, and Western Slope. The Short-horned Lizard is flat and wide-bodied, with numerous short horns. Most often, these lizards are tan, yellow-brown, and orange-brown to match the color of the soil in its environment.
Photo Credit: DPFishCo (iStock).
Black-footed Ferret (Photo) Credit Colorado Parks and Wildlife
11. Black-footed Ferret
The Black-footed Ferret was thought to be extinct – twice – according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Since the early 1940s, this ferret was absent from their natural habitats in Colorado. With reintroduction efforts by CPW, the Black-footed Ferret has made a comeback and officials now believe there are about 600 ferrets among breeding facilities and relocation sites in Colorado.
Photo Credit: Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Porcupine in Colorado (Photo) Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region
MORE
Check out more wildlife in Colorado, like this list of the nine weirdest animals or the 10 weirdest bug species.
Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region (Flickr)
(2) comments
Nope. I’m prairie dogging right now…
On my way to the bathroom….
Just had a #10 run across my path today while cutting wood above Mancos CO. And I thought they just introduced the ferret here in CO to reduce the priarie dog population?
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