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Rocky Mountain National Park
Mammals
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Photo by L. Benton This cow elk was resting along the Colorado River Trail in the Kawuneeche Valley.
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Many species of wildlife inhabit the park, yet visitors are often most attracted to their fellow mammals. Altogether, 66 mammal species are known to be native to the area, but three of these - grizzly bear, gray wolf, bison- have been extirpated (e.g., are locally extinct), and two others - lynx and wolverine - are either extirpated or extremely rare.
Little is known about population trends in the park for most of the mammals, with the exception of elk, mule deer, and bighorn sheep, which have been monitored to some extent by park staff and researchers.
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Mammals Reported* from Rocky Mountain National Park
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* Information from:
Armstrong, David M. 1987. Rocky Mountain Mammals: A Handbook of Mammals of Rocky Mountain National Park and Vicinity. Revised Edition. Colorado Associated University Press in cooperation with Rocky Mountain Nature Association, 223pp.
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Updated 10/28/03
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Common Name
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Scientific Name
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Picture
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Pronghorn Antelope (accidental)
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Antilocapra americana
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Bison (extirpated)
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Bison bison
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Bighorn Sheep
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Ovis canadensis
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Coyote
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Canis latrans
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Gray Wolf (extirpated)
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Canis lupus
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Gray Fox
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Urocyon cinereoargentues
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Red Fox
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Vulpes vulpes
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Beaver
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Castor canadensis
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Moose
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Alces alces
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Wapiti, or American Elk
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Cervus elaphus canadensis
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Mule Deer
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Odocoileus hemionus
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White-tailed Deer
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Odocoileus virginianus
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Southern Red-backed Vole
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Clethrionomys gapperi
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Sagebrush Vole
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Lagurus curtatus
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Long-tailed Vole
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Microtus longicaudus
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Montane Vole
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Microtus montanus
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Bushy-tailed Woodrat
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Neotoma cinerea
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Mexican Woodrat
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Neotoma mexicana
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Muskrat
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Ondatra zibethicus
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Rock Mouse
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Peromyscus difficilis
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Deer Mouse
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Peromyscus maniculatus
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Heather Vole
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Phenacomys intermedius
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Porcupine
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Erethizon dorsatum
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Mountain Lion
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Felis concolor
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Lynx (extipated)
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Felis lynx
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Bobcat
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Felis rufus
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Northern Pocket Gopher
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Thomomys talpoides
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Snowshoe Hare
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Lepus americanus
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White-tailed Jackrabbit
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Lepus townsendii
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Nuttall's Cottontail
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Sylvilagus nuttallii
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Wolverine
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Gulo gulo
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River Otter
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Lutra canadensis
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Marten
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Martes americanus
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Striped Skunk
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Memphitis mephitis
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Ermine
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Mustela erminea
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Long-tailed Weasel
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Mustela frenata
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Mink
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Mustela vison
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Western Spotted Skunk
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Spilogale gracilis
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Badger
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Taxidea taxus
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Pika
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Ochotona princeps
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Raccoon
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Procyon lotor
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Yellow-bellied Marmot
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Marmota flaviventris
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Abert's Squirrel
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Sciurus aberti
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Wyoming Ground Squirrel
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Spermophilus elegans
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Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
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Spermophilus lateralis
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Rock Squirrel
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Spermophilus variegatus
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Least Chipmunk
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Tamias minimus
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Colorado Chipmunk
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Tamias quadrivittatus
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Uinta Chipmunk
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Tamias umbrinus
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Chickaree
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Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
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Masked Shrew
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Sorex cinereus
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Pygmy Shrew
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Sorex hoyi
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Merriam's Shrew
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Sorex merriami
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Montane Shrew
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Sorex monticolus
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Dwarf Shrew
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Sorex nanus
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Water Shrew
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Sorex palustris
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Black Bear
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Ursus americanus
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Grizzly Bear (extirpated)
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Ursus arctos
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Western Jumping Mouse
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Zapus princeps
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Big Brown Bat
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Eptesicus fuscus
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Silver-haired Bat
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Lasionycteris noctivagans
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Hoary Bat
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Lasiurus cinereus
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Long-eared Myotis
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Myotis evotis
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Small-footed Myotis
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Myotis leibii
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Little Brown Bat
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Myotis lucifugus
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Long-legged Myotis
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Myotis volans
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Townsend's Big-eared Bat
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Plecotus townsendii
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Did You Know?
Temperature causes tree line. Trees need an average growing temperature of about 50 degrees fahrenheit.
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Last Updated: April 14, 2009 at 12:27 EST |
