Local Wildlife in Steamboat Springs
Scroll through to learn more about the wildlife that calls Steamboat Springs home. This is not an exhaustive list.
Join our iNaturalist group Wildlife Watchers to report your wildlife sightings!
Birds
Boreal Owl – Aegolius funereus
About our boreal owls:
- Boreal owls thrive in forests like the one surrounding the Steamboat Ski Resort, which is made up of spruce, aspen, and fir.
- Like other owl species, Boreal Owls in Colorado hunt at night and utilize a “sit and wait” hunting approach, hoping for a rodent or other small mammal to cross their path.
- Boreal owls are one of the smallest owls in North America, with a wingspan of 21-24 inches and weighing 3-7 ounces.
- Boreal owls nest in tree cavities, and male boreal owls will fiercely defend the area around their nest.
Canada Jay – Perisoreus canadensis
About our Canada jays:
- Canada Jays, sometimes known as Gray Jays or camp robbers, are a common sight at the Steamboat Ski Resort.
- Canada Jays spend the whole year in boreal and subalpine forests, like the Routt National Forest!
- Like many other Jays, Canada Jays are omnivorous and have a varied diet. These birds frequently eat insects, plants, other birds, and anything else they can fit in their mouths.
- Canada Jays are dedicated parents, often building their nest together, and lay their eggs in late winter.
Why shouldn’t you feed Canada jays? Feeding Canada Jays can have many unexpected consequences. Giving human food to Canada Jays can result in:
- Shifts in chick-hatching times that could result in chick starvation.
- Increased numbers of car or lift-tower collisions as birds try to approach humans more often.
- Birds relying on food stores that will expire before the winter is over.
- Accidental habituation of other wildlife, like bears, to human food and human areas.
- Transfer of diseases from birds to humans.
Rosy-Finches
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch – Leucosticte tephrocotis
Black Rosy-Finch – Leucosticte atrata
Brown-capped Rosy-Finch – Leucosticte australis
All Rosy Finch images and distribution maps courtesy of the Cornell Bird Lab.
About our Rosy-Finches
- The Black and Brown-capped Rosy-Finches are considered endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
- All Rosy-Finches eat a mixed diet of seeds and insects in the summer, and primarily seeds in the winter.
- Rosy-Finches create their nests in alpine rocky areas or cliffs. As the treeline pushes higher in elevation with climate change, these birds are running out of prime nesting habitat.
- In the winter, Rosy-Finches come down in elevation from their rocky nesting sites to alpine forests, making them a common sight around the Steamboat Ski Resort.
Sharp-tailed Grouse – Tympanuchus phasianellus
About our Short-tailed Grouse:
- The Short-tailed Grouse’s historical range encompassed 20 Colorado counties, now, after a 90% reduction of native habitat, it is only found in Routt, Moffat, and Rio Blanco counties.
- Male Short-tailed Grouse inflate the purple air sacs on their necks which make cooing noises as part of their breeding dance to attract females.
- Sharp-tailed Grouse nest in shrubby grasslands with ample serviceberry, bluegrass, sagebrush, and wheatgrass.
- In late fall and winter, Sharp-tailed Grouse move to forests containing aspen, birch, and conifers- like the Routt National Forest.
- Sharp-tailed Grouse diets are composed of many local plants and occasionally insects. Like the White-tailed Ptarmigan, Sharp-tailed Grouse hold grit in their gizzards to help break down food.
White-tailed Ptarmigan – Lagopus leucura
Top: Ptarmigan in summer
Bottom: Ptarmigan in winter
About our White-tailed Ptarmigans:
- Like the snowshoe hare, White-tailed Ptarmigan go through a major transformation in the winter, trading their brown feathers for white!
- White-tailed Ptarmigan are the ultimate winter bird. Temperatures above 70 degrees can cause them stress, and they are often witnessed bathing in the snow to help cool down.
- White-tailed Ptarmigan have a gizzard, like chickens, where the grit they consume helps them grind up the plants they eat.
- Similar to other species of grouse, male White-tailed Ptarmigan put on quite the show during the early spring pre-breeding season.
- Like the Rosy-Finches, alpine, treeless habitat is crucial for the White-tailed Ptarmigan and is decreasing with climate change.
Mammals
American Black Bear – Ursus americanus
About our bears:
- Black bears are the only type of bear in Colorado, but they come in many colors! Many Colorado black bears actually appear brown or cinnamon-colored. Just look at the bear below!
- The last Grizzly bear in Colorado was killed, in self-defense, in 1979.
- Black bears are omnivores and their diets are 90% plant-material, with the other 10% a mixture of grubs, carrion, and whatever else they can find.
- Black bear noses are 7x more sensitive than a bloodhound, and they can smell food up to 5 miles away! (Fun fact: the town of Steamboat Springs is about 6 miles long!)
- Click here to learn more about how to coexist with bears in Steamboat Springs.
What do you do if you see a black bear?
- Give them plenty of space and watch their body language. Huffing, clacking teeth, and pounding the ground are all signs that the bear is stressed and more prone to charge. If you can, back away from the bear- do not run or turn your back on it.
- Talk to the bear in a calm, confident voice while moving your arms around to show the bear that you are human. If you have small children or pets with you, pick them up or hold them close to your body.
- Do not make high-pitched noises as this could cause the bear to see you as prey. Avoid direct eye-contact with the bear which could be seen as an aggressive challenge.
- If the bear continues to approach, raise your arms over your head and tell the bear to go away in a loud, firm voice. You can also throw rocks or sticks at the bear to scare it. Do NOT throw food at the bear.
- In the unlikely event that the bear attacks, kick and hit the bear as hard as possible in the face and muzzle.
Bear Spray – bear spray is a great tool for keeping yourself safe in bear country. In most cases, bear spray is more effective at stopping a bear attack than a firearm. Remember to only use bear spray if a bear is acting aggressively or attacking. The National Park Service has great resources for learning how to safely carry and use bear spray.
American Pika – Ochotona princeps
About our American pika:
- American pika are an alpine species of lagomorph, like the snowshoe hare!
- Unlike the snowshoe hare, pika spend the winter hidden in their dens with the hay supplies they spent the summer collecting.
- American pikas are the smallest of the lagomorphs, usually reaching about 8 inches in length and weighing about 7 ounces.
- American pika live above the timberline in rock fields and glacial moraines which provide them with pre-built dens and tunnels to hide in. Unfortunately, as climate change causes the treeline to extend higher in elevation, the American pike is losing its home.
- Although they are an easy target for predators, pika are well protected by the rocky terrain they call home. Some predators, like coyotes and hawks, struggle to catch the elusive pika. Smaller predators, like weasels and martens, tend to have more success.
Badger – Taxidea taxus
About our badgers:
- Although rare, badgers can sometimes be seen around the Steamboat Ski Resort.
- Badgers do not hibernate for the winter but instead spend multiple days in burrows between foraging outings.
- In the summer, badgers are more active and move between burrows frequently.
- Badger diets are comprised mostly of other small mammals, like ground squirrels and voles.
- Badgers are built for life underground with large claws for digging, as well as guard hairs around their nose and ears and third eyelids to block out debris!
- Like many defensive animals, badgers get a bad reputation as aggressive. Badgers are solitary creatures and will defend their home territories, but often try to avoid humans.
- Badgers are short and stocky animals, they are typically 25-30 inches long and usually weigh 11-25 pounds.
Bobcat – Lynx rufus
About our Bobcats:
- Bobcats are very similar in appearance to their cousin, the Lynx. Bobcats have smaller ear tufts and paws, and typically have a spotted coat, which the Lynx lacks.
- Bobcats are commonly found in foothills and canyons, and, unlike the Lynx, avoid sub-alpine timber areas like the Steamboat Resort.
- Bobcats stand 12-18 inches at the shoulder and are about 30-40 inches long.
- The ultimate opportunistic hunter, Bobcats will eat anything they can take down, particularly small mammals and birds.
- Like most other big cats, Bobcats are incredibly shy and elusive, so you’re unlikely to see one in the wild.
Canada Lynx – Lynx canadensis
About our Canada Lynx:
- Lynx are very similar in appearance to their cousin, the bobcat. The lynx has longer ear tufts and larger paws than a bobcat, especially their rear paws.
- Lynx stand about 2 feet tall at the shoulder and weigh between 20 and 50 pounds.
- The back legs of a lynx are slightly longer than the front legs, so they often look stooped over when they walk.
- A Lynx’s favorite meal is snowshoe hare! Their diet is 80% snowshoe hare, with the other 20% consisting of grouse, ptarmigan, and various small mammals.
- Canada Lynx are born in May or June, and can live up to 15 years in the wild.
- Like most other big cats, Lynx are incredibly shy and elusive, so you’re unlikely to see one in the wild.
Elk – Cervus canadensis nelsoni
About our elk:
- Elk can live up to 13 years.
- Elk were originally named Wapiti by the Shawnee thanks to their white rumps. Wap is the word for white in the Shawnee language.
- Elk can weigh up to 800 pounds, and stand 5 feet at the shoulder.
- At their top speed, elk can run 40 miles per hour.
- With herbivorous diets, elk eat mostly grasses and other herbaceous plants.
- Colorado has the largest population of elk in North America- just under 300,000.
What do you do if you see an elk?
- Make sure you’re not in an elk closure area!
- Give them space! Follow the rule of thumb
- Check for the warning signs: pinned-back ears, lowered head, raised hackles, licking snout, charges or rearing back on the hind legs.
- If you are on the mountain: Alert Ski Patrol or a Ski Resort Ambassador that there is an elk in the area.
Moose – Alces alces shirasi
About our Moose:
- Colorado’s moose, the Shiras moose, is the smallest in North America.
- Moose can weigh over 1,000 pounds and stand 6 feet tall at the shoulder.
- These large animals are herbivores, and their diet consists mostly of willows, young aspen, and other plants.
- At a full tilt, moose can run 20-35 miles an hour.
- Moose can live up to 25 years.
- “Moose” comes from the Algonquin word meaning “eater of twigs.”
- Moose are not actually native to Colorado, you can read more about their introduction from Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
What do you do if you see a moose?
- Give them plenty of space! Follow the rule of thumb.
- Check for the warning signs: pinned-back ears, lowered head, raised hackles, licking snout, charges, or rearing back on the hind legs.
- Back away slowly- remember, moose don’t shoo!
- If you are on the mountain: Alert Ski Patrol or a Ski Resort Ambassador that there is a moose in the area.
Mountain Lion – Puma concolor
About our Mountain Lions:
- Mountain lions were named for their monochrome tan fur- their scientific name, Puma concolor, translates to cat of one color.
- The mountain lion is the biggest of Colorado’s big cats. Mountain lions are 7-8 feet long, including their 2-3 foot long tail, and weigh between 90 and 150 pounds.
- Despite their small stature, mountain lions are formidable hunters and often take down much larger elk and deer.
- Between April and July, female mountain lions give birth to 2-3 spotted kittens. These spots, like those of a fawn, help the kittens stay out of sight until they are about 6 months old.
- Like most other big cats, mountain lions are incredibly shy and elusive, so you’re unlikely to see one in the wild.
What do you do if you see a mountain lion?
- Give them plenty of space and a route to escape. Mountain lions will usually avoid conflict if possible. If you can, back away from them- do not run or turn your back on a mountain lion.
- Maintain eye contact with the mountain lion and make yourself seem large. You can appear larger by opening a jacket or stepping up in elevation.
- If you have small children or pets with you, try to pick them up without bending over or crouching down. Bending over or crouching down could make you seem like an easier target for a mountain lion.
- Throw sticks or rocks at the mountain lion and talk to it in a loud firm voice- mountain lions are naturally fearful of humans but they may need some convincing.
- In the unlikely event that the lion attacks, fight back with all of your might. Use rocks or sticks and concentrate blows to the nose and eyes. Try to remain standing and facing the animal. Many people have successfully fought off mountain lion attacks.
Pacific Marten – Martes caurina
About our Pacific martens:
- Pacific martens have the tell-tale weasel body, reaching about 28 inches long but weighing only 2.5 pounds.
- Despite their small stature, pacific martens are ferocious hunters, with most of their diet consisting of small rodents and birds.
- Like other species of marten, Pacific martens are mostly nocturnal but will hunt whenever the hunger strikes.
- Pacific martens in Colorado prefer habitats with spruce, fir, or lodgepole pine.
- Pacific martens spend most of their time in the trees and can travel long distances without touching the ground.
Porcupine – Erethizon dorsatum
About our porcupines:
- Porcupines are the second-largest rodents in Colorado, beavers being the largest.
- Porcupines typically weigh around 33 pounds and are 27-32 inches in length.
- Contrary to popular belief, porcupines can not throw their quills from their bodies. Although they do spin around and slap their tails when they feel threatened.
- November and December are the breeding season for porcupines where these usually solitary animals seek out a mate.
- Baby porcupines are born with their quills, which harden when they encounter air after birth.
- Porcupines are herbivorous and forage for grasses, fruits, leaves, and tubers. In the winter, porcupines survive on tree bark and needles.
- Porcupines possess 15,000-30,000 quills, which can grow up to 4 inches long.
Snowshoe Hare – Lepus americanus
Top: Snowshoe hare in summer
Bottom: Snowshoe hare in winter
About our snowshoe hares:
- Snowshoe hares go through quite the transformation, with a brown coat in the summer and white coats in the winter to maximize their camouflage.
- Snowshoe hares are large, reaching over a foot in length and weighing 3-4 pounds.
- To outrun predators, the incredibly agile snowshoe hare runs in a zig-zag pattern.
- The snowshoe hare breeding season runs from March to August, and females may have up to 3 litters in one year.
- Summer diets for snowshoe hares are comprised of herbaceous plants and berries, as well as their winter specialty: woody vegetation.
- Snowshoe hares are mostly nocturnal, although some are more crepuscular, meaning they are active at dawn and dusk.
Weasels
Long-tailed Weasel – Mustela frenata
Short-tailed Weasel – Mustela erminea
About our Weasels:
- Ermine, also known as the Short-tailed Weasel, and the Long-tailed Weasel are the only two true weasels in Colorado.
- Although they are small, weasels are voracious predators and feed on small mammals, bird eggs, and other small animals.
- Both the Ermine and the Long-tailed Weasel shift from a brown coat in the summer to a fully white coat in the winter, with the exception of their black-tipped tails.
- Both of these Colorado weasels need to eat around 30% of their weight in food each day and may kill more than needed at once to cache the rest for later.
Long-tailed Weasels and Ermines are nearly impossible to tell apart without seeing the tail. Both animals turn white in the winter, like the long-tailed weasel on the left.
Wolverine – Gulo gulo
About our wolverines:
- Wolverines are the largest species of weasel (mustelid) in the world.
- Some folks know wolverines as skunk bears! With their size and stripes, it’s a fitting nickname.
- Wolverines can weigh 25-35 pounds and are about 3 feet long, with an added 7-10 inches of tail!
- Although wolverine diets vary widely, these omnivores tend to eat other small mammals, carrion, and plants.
- Wolverines need a lot of space. Female home ranges usually encompass ~150 square miles, whereas males need closer to 500 square miles.
- Wolverines are commonly mistaken for small black bears, badgers, marmots, and porcupines- make sure you know the difference!
Yellow-bellied Marmot – Marmota flaviventris
About our Yellow-bellied Marmots:
- Yellow-bellied Marmots are one of Colorado’s only true hibernators, so you shouldn’t see them around the ski resort in the winter.
- In the summer, Yellow-bellied Marmots are often seen around the trails of the Steamboat Ski Resort.
- Fully-grown Yellow-bellied Marmots are about 26 inches long and weigh around 11 pounds.
- As herbivores, Yellow-bellied Marmots prefer flowering plant stalks but will settle for other leaves and grasses to gain the weight needed for hibernation.
- Yellow-bellied Marmots build burrows under boulders or tree roots to den. These burrows must be deep enough to survive the harsh winters of the Yampa Valley.
- Male Yellow-bellied Marmots form harems in their territory comprised of females, yearlings, and young of the year.