Summer Wildlife: Animals

Elk
The adult male is about as large as a horse, and has very large, palmate antlers. Calve in late May and early June.

Mule deer
A brownish-gray deer of western North America that has long mule-like ears, large branching antlers in the male, and a black-tipped tail.

Yellow-bellied marmot
Resides in the open meadows with rocky areas.

Golden mantled ground squirrel
One of numerous species of burrowing rodents having cheek pouches.

Chipmunk
Small ground-dwelling rodent distinguished from other ground squirrels by stripped face.

American black bear
Only bear in Colorado. Color can vary from black to cinnamon.

Year round residents that change from their protective winter white coat to their summer brown coat.

Ermine
Called the long tailed weasel when it is brown, ermine when it is white. They're seen running across the grass and fallen trees and diving into snow banks and under rocks.

Snowshoe hare
All white in winter and light brown in the summer. Its tracks are distinct with its large hind feet and much smaller front ones. They eat buds off the spruce branches. Hides out during the day under branches or deadfall trees. Look for tracks in protected areas under the lifts.

Ptarmigan
Mottled brown in summer-live on the alpine tundra-ground dwellers that really blend into the rocks on the tundra. A type of grouse-solid white plumage in winter. A ground dweller that lives at tree line. They eat willow buds and are not commonly seen. It may burrow into the snow for protection from the wind and for warmth. Its feathered feet are unique in the bird family.

Red fox
Small with bushy tail and thick fur. Can be seen around the golf course.

Pika
Small members of the rabbit family, don’t hibernate, but stay underground all winter. Live in alpine rockpiles- like the rockpile in Hallelujah Bowl.