We encountered wildlife throughout Colorado, but the biggest concentration of large mammels was in the Kawuneeche Valley on the western side of Rocky Mountain NP.

Elk were everywhere.* We quickly became blasé about distant herds, perferring to wait for closer encounters. Like all of the large mammals we sighted, these elk were used to human presence. By remaining quietly in one spot, we found that the animals often would approach us. They were more interested in feeding than they were in avoiding us.

* The Colorado Division of Wildlife claims a state population of over 300,000 elk (2003).

This guy was huge! We sat quietly in the car, shooting through the open window. Unfortunately, a number of people behind us weren't so patient, approaching on foot and making noises to attract his attention.

Although not so handsome a specimen as the one above, this fellow sported a 12-point rack that got our attention. He was so busy grazing that he seldom raised his head to look around, showing no interest in the group of onlookers that quickly gathered.

Our first encounter with this female moose was too close for comfort. After backing off for a while, we cautiously reapproached. By then she had lost interest in us, and was concentrating on her breakfast. She was browsing in beaver ponds along the Colorado River in the Kawuneeche Valley, early in the morning.

While watching her feed for nearly an hour, we happily recorded the "moose circles" rippling across the early morning reflections from the Never Summer mountains to the west

Backlighting accents the large ears that give the mule deer her name. This undernourished female was leading her fawn along Lake Monarch, east of Lake Granby.

We saw numerous smaller animals, also quite comfortable in our presence. Some merely ignored us while others, like the chipmunks and ground squirrels, were persistant and fearless beggars.

This coyote passed within 20 feet of us, intent on hunting small rodents in the mountain meadow.

Golden-mantled ground squirrels were everywhere, often approaching within 3 feet to see if we were good for a handout. These guys are NOT an endangered species in Colorado!

Like the ground squirrel above, this yellow-pine chipmunk was looking for a snack. He got one from some obliging tourists.

After watching carefully for a while, this prairie dog dove into the hole right before his (her?) nose. This one must have been a hermit. We saw no signs of the expected colony in this Beaver Meadows section of Rocky Mountain NP.

		We were not equipped for serious bird photography, but some came close enough to shoot comfortably.
	The Steller's Jay (left) and Clark's Nutcracker (above) are common species in this area.

The one that did not get away. The remains of this red fox remind us of the unfortunate fate of many animals along our roadways.

©2003 Tom and Ellen Judd All rights reserved.