Winter Wildlife: Animals
Four animals are common at Copper in the winter: the Chickaree (pine squirrel), the Ermine (a weasel), the Snowshoe Hare, and the Porcupine.
Of these, the Chickaree and the Ermine are commonly seen in the daytime, while the Snowshoe Hare and Porcupine are seen most often at night.
Chickaree (pine squirrel)
Small, dark gray. They are often seen scurrying across the snow between trees. It survives on caches of spruce and pinecones and dried mushrooms buried under the snow. It will make a loud racket when threatened. Small sets of dual tracks going directly from one tree to another belong to him.
Ermine
A weasel- white in winter with a black tip on its tail. They're seen running across the snow and diving into snow banks. Eats mainly mice during the winter.
Snowshoe Hare
All white in winter. 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.
Porcupine
Found in the trees or lumbering across the snow close to the bottom of the mountain. They live on the inner bark of lodgepole pines. Bare spots on the upper trunks are evidenced that a porcupine has had a meal here.
Many animals present during the summer either hibernate (like bears, chipmunks and marmots) or they migrate to lower elevations where there is less snow- (such as elk and deer).
The pika does not hibernate, however. It lives in boulder fields under the snow and eats the grasses it has stored during the summer. Lower Hallelujah Bowl is such a place.
