Mammals

Bobcat in winter

NPS/Lisa Lynch

More than 60 species of mammals are known to live in Curecanti. Some are seen more frequently than others—Gunnison’s prairie dog near the Elk Creek entrance, bighorn sheep along U.S. Highway 50, and squirrels and chipmunks scurrying in parking lots and campgrounds. Other mammals such as black bears, foxes, badgers, and bobcats, are inactive during the day or wary of humans. This makes sightings rare and special.

For a complete list of mammal species found at Curecanti National Recreation Area, use the tool below. Select 'Mammals' under species category.

 

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Species Attribute Definitions

Definitions

Occurrence

Occurrence values are defined below. One or more Occurrence Tags may be associated with each Occurrence value.

Present: Species occurs in park; current, reliable evidence available.

Probably Present: High confidence species occurs in park but current, verified evidence needed.

Unconfirmed: Species is attributed to park but evidence is weak or absent.

Not In Park: Species is not known to occur in park.

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Occurrence Tags

Adjacent: Species is known to occur in areas near to or contiguous with park boundaries.

False Report: Species was reported to occur within the park, but current evidence indicates the report was based on misidentification, a taxonomic concept no longer accepted, or other similar problem of error or interpretation.

Historical: Species' historical occurrence in park is documented. Assigned based on judgment as opposed to determination based on age of the most recent evidence.

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Abundance

Abundant:

• Animals: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, and counted in relatively large numbers.
• Plants: Large number of individuals; wide ecological amplitude or occurring in habitats covering a large portion of the park.

Common:

• Animals: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, but not in large numbers.
• Plants: Large numbers of individuals predictably occurring in commonly encountered habitats but not those covering a large portion of the park.

Uncommon:

• Animals: Likely to be seen monthly in appropriate habitat and season. May be locally common.
• Plants: Few to moderate numbers of individuals; occurring either sporadically in commonly encountered habitats or in uncommon habitats.

Rare:

• Animals: Present, but usually seen only a few times each year.
• Plants: Few individuals, usually restricted to small areas of rare habitat.

Occasional:

• Animals: Occurs in the park at least once every few years, varying in numbers, but not necessarily every year.
• Plants: Abundance variable from year to year (e.g., desert plants).

Unknown: Abundance unknown

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Nativeness

Native: Species naturally occurs in park or region.

Non-native: Species occurs on park lands as a result of deliberate or accidental human activities.

Unknown: Nativeness status is unknown or ambiguous.

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List Differences

The Checklist contains only those species that are designated as "present" or "probably present" in the park.

The Full List includes all the checklist species in addition to species that are unconfirmed, historically detected, or incorrectly reported as being found in the park. The full list also contains species that are "in review" because their status in the park hasn't been fully determined. Additional details about the status of each species is included in the full list.

The checklist will almost always contain fewer species than the full list.

Select a Park:

Curecanti National Recreation Area

Select a Species Category (optional):

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Species attribute definitions

Search results will be displayed here.

Visit NPSpecies for more comprehensive information and advanced search capability. Have a suggestion or comment on this list? Let us know.

 

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep

NPS

Bighorn Sheep

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis) are the largest wild sheep in North America. They typically exist in social groups, but males (rams) and females (ewes) live separately outside mating season. Bighorn sheep prefer areas with grasses, shrubs, and rock cover. In the park, one may see them along inaccessible cliffs of the inner canyon.

Rams can weigh 150 to 200 lbs (68 to 90 kg). Ewes are slightly smaller at 75 to 150 lbs (34 to 68 kg). Coats are usually gray and brown, becoming thick and lighter in color during the winter. Rams have large horns that curl around their faces. Ewes have smaller horns that curve slightly. Their vision, hearing, and highly developed sense of smell can detect danger from far away. Specialized hooves and soles help the animals grip steep, rocky surfaces when jumping or climbing.

 

Black bear

NPS/Jeremy Stringfield

Black Bear

American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) are commonly seen along trails or roadways at the park. They are active both day and night. Black bears can be a variety of colors, including blonde, cinnamon, black, light and chocolate brown. Size depends on a bear's age. Spring cubs are smaller, weighing roughly 10 to 20 pounds (4.5 to 9 kg). Yearlings, or bears born the previous year, are typically 40 to 70 pounds (18 to 32 kg). Adult bears can be between 100 to 400 pounds (45 to 100 kgs). Bears' food sources are largely tied to seasons and consist of grasses, insects, berries, acorns, and sometimes deceased animals killed by other predators.

Bears are an important part of the ecosystem at Curecanti and therefore efforts to reduce habituation or access to food is critical. Campers should store all food, trash, and scented items in provided food storage boxes or hard-sided bear canisters.

 

Bobcat

NPS/Lisa Lynch

Bobcat

The bobcat (Lynx rufus) is seldom seen by visitors. Their physical appearance is similar to a lynx, but distinguishable by their black-tipped "bobbed" tail and smaller ear tufts. Bobcats can be around 3 feet (1 m) long and weight 15 to 35 pounds (6 to 16 kg). Bobcats occur widely across North America and the most common wild cat. They prefer foothills, canyons, mesas, and plateaus.

Bobcats are stealthy hunters. Their diet consists mostly of rabbits, but will also eat mice, voles and birds. They are active year-round and breed in late winter and spring.

 

Coyote

NPS

Coyote

Coyote (Canis latrans) are a wild canine found across North America. In the 1900s, efforts were made to eradicate coyotes as they posted a threat to livestock. Despite this, the species continues to thrive and is very adaptable. Their habitat ranges from forests to mountains and even urban areas.

Coyotes can weigh between 25 to 35 pounds (11 to 16 kg) and roughly one third the size of a wolf. Their coloration varies by location and season but is either pale grey or a reddish brown. They are omnivores and forage for birds, eggs, rodents, rabbits, and carrion. These animals are mostly active at dawn and dusk.

 

Elk

NPS/Vida Turek

Elk

Elk (Cervus canadensis), also known as wapiti, are the largest native deer in Colorado. Bull elk (male) weigh up to 900 pounds (408 kg), while cows (female) are typically 400 to 600 pounds (181 to 272 kg). Coloration varies from deep brown on top and a lighter rump and lower legs. Only bull elk have large, heavy antlers. Elk graze in meadows and alpine tundras in more mountainous areas of the state. Their diet includes grasses, shrubs, twigs, tree bark, and conifer needles.

Mating season, or the "rut," occurs in fall. Bull elk bugle and may challenge each other for dominance and access to cows. These fights involve pushing and crashing antlers. After mating season, calves are usually born in late spring or early summer.

Elk, as well as bighorn sheep and deer, come down from the mountains in winter to feed and avoid colder, snowier conditions at higher elevations.

 

Gunnison's prairie dog

NPS

Gunnison's Prairie Dog

The Gunnison’s prairie dog (Cynomys gunnisoni) inhabits the sagebrush and grassland environment of Curecanti. This species is part of the same family which includes squirrels, chipmunks, and marmots. Prairie dogs are preyed upon by coyotes, hawks, eagles, and badgers.

Prairie dogs are very social creatures and have a well-developed communication system. Prairie dogs live in colonies which are loosely organized into clans called coteries. Their burrows can extend for 15 to 86 feet (4.6 to 26.6 m), with several chambers used as nurseries, toilets, resting areas and air pockets in the event of flooding.

At Curecanti, the prairie dog population presents a special concern. The prairie dog carries fleas that can harbor plague bacteria (Yersinia pestiis). This can knock back or eliminate a prairie dog population. Other rodent and small mammals can harbor these bacteria as well.

 

Mountain cottontail in winter

NPS Photo

Mountain Cottontail

Mountain cottontail (Sylvilagus nuttallii) is the most common rabbit species found in the park. This species exists throughout the western U.S. These animals are medium sized, generally weighing 2 to 3 pounds (0.9 to 1.3 kg). They have a gray coat, white underbelly, and short ears rounded at the tip.

Their habitat is brushy or wooded areas in areas covered with grasses or sagebrush. They are active all year—mostly at dawn and dusk to avoid predators. Mountain cottontail prefer grasses and sagebrush as main food sources. They have very high reproductive rates with 2 to 5 litters per year.

 

Mule deer (buck)

NPS/Morgan Gresser-MacGregor

Mule Deer

Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) are found throughout western North America. They occur in a variety of habitats – from open deserts to mountains to developed urban areas. Mule deer are slightly larger and heavier than white-tailed deer. Adults can weigh up to 100 pounds (females) and 300 pounds (males). Males (bucks) have antlers used to fight other male competitors during fall mating season or the “rut.” Following the rut, bucks focus less on mating and more on survival. The herd will move to lower elevations during winter to forage where snow is less deep.

Within the park, mule deer are usually seen along trails in dense brushy areas. They are herbivores and feed on shrubs, woody materials, and sometimes grasses. In deep snow, mule deer rely on more readily available foods like sagebrush and juniper

Mule deer are particularly active at dawn and dusk. Visitors should drive with caution and pay attention along roadways to avoid collisions with wildlife.

 

Red fox

NPS/Morgan Gresser-MacGregor

Red Fox

The rex fox (Vulpes vulpes) is a member of the canid family, which includes wolves, coyotes, and domestic dogs. They are smaller than coyotes, weighing 8 to 15 pounds. They are not always red, but have four recognized color phases: red, cross, silver, and black. Red foxes are common in woodlands, pastures, riparian and agricultural areas.

Red foxes can range between five to ten square miles (8 to 16 square km) to find food. As opportunistic omnivores, they have a varied diet of eggs, small mammals, insects, fish, amphibians, worms, berries, and carrion. Their predators include coyotes, eagles, owls, bobcats, and mountain lions.

Foxes are nocturnal and not seen often by visitors. They usually forage alone, and travel along the edges of forests, woodlands, and meadows.

 

Resources

Alden, Peter, and National Audubon Society. 1999. National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Rocky Mountain States. New York: A. Knopf; New York.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife. "Species Profiles." https://cpw.state.co.us/species-profiles.

Singer, Francis J. and Gudorf, Michelle A. "Restoration of bighorn sheep metapopulations in and near 15 national parks: Conservation of a severely fragmented species; Volume I, Planning, problem definition, findings, and restoration," U.S. Geological Survey. Open-File Report, 99-102 (1999): 51-59. https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1999/0102/report.pdf

Haymond S and Others. 2003. 2001-2002 Mammalian inventory final report for selected Northern Colorado Plateau Network parks. Albuquerque, NM

NPSpecies Mammal Checklist. National Park Service, Integrated Resource Management Applications.
https://irma.nps.gov/NPSpecies/Search/SpeciesList/CURE

O’Dell, T., S. Garman, A. Evenden, M. Beer, E. Nance, S. Daw, A. Wight, M. Powell, D. Perry, R. DenBleyker, et al. 2004. Northern Colorado Plateau Network and Prototype Cluster, Plan for Natural Resources Monitoring, Phase III [two volumes]. National Park Service, Inventory and Monitoring Program, Northern Colorado Plateau Network, Moab, UT. 184 p. plus appendices.