What Happens to Colorado Wildlife in Winter?
When winter socks into Colorado’s Mountains and plains, our wildlife undergoes some remarkable adaptations to cope with the challenges of the season… so let’s dive in and look at some of them.Â
Wildlife
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Bad Year for Birds at Barr Lake
In the third week of September I visited the Banding Station at Barr Lake operated by the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies. This is one of two sites where the BCOR bands and monitors birds migrating through the area in spring and fall. I checked in and took a seat on a shaded deck along…
Watchin’ Varmints: Yellow-Bellied Marmot Behavior
While I was up on Mount Blue Sky this summer, one of my favorite pastimes was marmot watching. And this summer I got a lot of marmot watching in. No thats not a weird euphemism! I really watched marmots this summer. But before we dig in on some fun behavior… You Might be Wondering… What…
Update on the Centennial Prairie Dogs
An adult and baby black-tailed prairie dog chase each other around their burrows. – Copyright 2021 Heather Valey Remember my summer post regarding the bulldozing of the black-tailed prairie dog colony in Centennial, Colorado? Well, here’s the latest update on the neighboring colony that managed to survive. Prairie Dog Activist Persists Centennial Prairie Dogs activist,…
From Burrows to Bulldozers: The Plight of the Centennial Prairie Dogs
It was a cloudy morning on July 14th as Karen Carter drove to her work office in Centennial Colorado. While waiting to turn on a road near her job, she turned to look at a prairie colony in the adjacent field like she always did. She enjoyed watching their antics as they ran from burrow…
Prairie Dog Controversy on Land Managed for Multiple Uses
Introduction I wrote a post a couple weeks ago about prairie dogs being trapped on Boulder County Parks and Open Space (BCPOS). Unsurprisingly, it produced a great deal of drama and feedback. One person close to me chastised me, saying “Of all the effed up stuff going on right now, you’re focusing on 150 prairie…
Death Sentence in Disguise for Prairie Dogs at Picture Rock Trail
First, Let’s Set the Scene Boulder County Open Space in Colorado has a reputation for world-class parks and trails. The Picture Rock trail at Hiel Ranch near Lyons in Boulder County is a great example of this. With its stunning views, diverse habitats, and multiple recreational opportunities, Hiel Valley Ranch is a wonderful piece of…
Nature’s Uplifting Power: How a Hike Lifted my Spirits
A Bumpy Start… It started out with a stressful drive to the canyon that made me grumpy. The traffic was “challenging” and a rock had hit and marked my newly replaced windshield. Additionally, I felt like the weather report that had promised me a nice overcast morning had lied as I watched the sun burn…