Mammals of Rocky Mountain National Park

There are 67 native species of mammals in Rocky Mountain National Park, a 265,461 acres (107,428 ha) park in Colorado.[1] Species are listed by common name, scientific name, habitat, and abundance.[2] Species which are extirpated, or locally extinct, are marked with an EX.

A herd of elk on Flattop Mountain

Pronghorn

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Order: Artiodactyla Family: Antilocapridae

  • Pronghorn, Antilocapra americana, meadows, grasslands, sagebrush, occasional

Bovids

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A pair of bighorn sheep

Order: Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae

  • American bison, Bos bison, meadows, grasslands, tundra, extirpated EX
  • Aurochs, Bos taurus, meadows, Ex, E
  • Mountain goat, Oreamnos americanus, cliffs, rocky areas, occasional (non-native)
  • Bighorn sheep, Ovis canadensis, cliffs, rocky areas, tundra, common

Moose, elk, and deer

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A moose and her calf

Order: Artiodactyla Family: Cervidae

  • Moose, Alces alces, montane and subalpine forests, riparian, meadows, uncommon
  • Elk, Cervus elaphus, montane, and subalpine forests, meadows, tundra, abundant
  • Mule deer, Odocoileus hemionus, montane and subalpine forests, meadows, common
  • White-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus, montane forests, meadows, occasional

Canids

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Order: Carnivora Family: Canidae

  • Coyote, Canis latrans, montane and subalpine forests, meadows, tundra, common
  • Gray wolf, Canis lupus, montane and subalpine forests, meadows, tundra, extirpated EX
  • Gray fox, Urocyon cineoargentus, montane forests, meadows, unconfirmed
  • Red fox, Vulpes vulpes, montane and subalpine forests, meadows, common

Cats

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Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae

  • Canada lynx, Lynx canadensis, subalpine forests, rare
  • Bobcat, Lynx rufus, montane and subalpine forests, meadows, common
  • Cougar, Puma concolor, montane and subalpine forests, uncommon

Skunks

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Order: Carnivora Family: Mephitidae

Weasels

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A long-tailed weasel

Order: Carnivora Family: Mustelidae

  • Wolverine, Gulo gulo, subalpine forests, alpine tundra, occasional
  • North American river otter, Lontra canadensis, rivers, riparian, uncommon
  • American marten, Martes americana, montane and subalpine forests, uncommon
  • Ermine, Mustela erminea, montane and subalpine forests, alpine tundra, meadows, uncommon
  • Long-tailed weasel, Mustela frenata, montane and subalpine forests, alpine tundra, meadows, common
  • American mink, Mustela vison, rivers, lakes, riparian, rare
  • American badger, Taxidea taxus, meadows, grasslands, uncommon

Raccoons and Ringtails

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Order: Carnivora Family: Procyonidae

  • Common raccoon, Procyon lotor, montane forests, riparian, uncommon
  • Ring-tailed cat, Bassariscus astutus, montane forests, riparian, rare, if present

Bears

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Order: Carnivora Family: Ursidae

  • Grizzly bear, Ursus arctos, montane and subalpine forests, alpine tundra, meadows, extirpated EX
  • American black bear, Ursus americanus, montane and subalpine forests, common

Bats

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Order: Chiroptera Family: Vespertilionidae

  • Silver-haired bat, Lasionycteris noctivagans, montane and subalpine forests, riparian, meadows, common
  • Hoary bat, Lasiurus cinereus, montane and subalpine forests, riparian, meadows, uncommon
  • Western small-footed myotis, Myotis ciliolabrum, montane forests, riparian, meadows rare, if present
  • Long-eared myotis, Myotis evotis, montane and subalpine forests, riparian, meadows, uncommon
  • Little brown bat, Myotis lucifugus, montane and subalpine forests, riparian, meadows, uncommon
  • Big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus, montane and subalpine forests, riparian, meadows, rare, if present
  • Long-legged myotis, Myotis volans, montane forests, riparian, meadows, uncommon
  • Townsend's big-eared bat, Plecotus townsendii, montane and subalpine forest, riparian, meadows, rare, if present

Free-tailed bats

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Order: Chiroptera Family: Molossidae

Hares and rabbits

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A snowshoe hare in its summer coat

Order: Lagomorpha Family: Leporidae

Pikas

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An American pika

Order: Lagomorpha Family: Ochotonidae

  • American pika, Ochotona princeps, rocky areas, alpine tundra, common

Beavers

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Order: Rodentia Family: Castoridae

  • American beaver, Castor canadensis, rivers, streams, lakes, riparian, uncommon

Voles and mice

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Order: Rodentia Family: Cricetidae

  • Southern red-backed vole, Clethrionomys gapperi, montane and subalpine forests, common
  • Long-tailed vole, Microtus longicaudis, montane and subalpine forests, meadows, riparian, uncommon
  • Montane vole, Microtus montanus, meadows, riparian, common
  • Meadow vole, Microtus pennsylvanicus, meadows, riparian, rare, if present
  • Sagebrush vole, Lagurus curtatus, meadows, sagebrush flats, rare, if present
  • Bushy-tailed woodrat, Neotoma cinerea, montane and subalpine forests, meadows, riparian, uncommon
  • Mexican woodrat, Neotoma mexicana, montane forests, meadows, riparian, rare, if present
  • Common muskrat, Ondatra zibethicus, marshes, lakes, riparian, uncommon
  • Deer mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus, montane and subalpine forests, meadows, riparian, alpine tundra, abundant
  • Northern rock mouse, Peromyscus nasutus, montane forests, meadows, riparian, uncommon
  • Western heather vole, Phenacomus intermedius, montane and subalpine forests, meadows, alpine tundra, uncommon

Jumping mice

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Order: Rodentia Family: Dipodidae

Porcupines

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A North American porcupine

Order: Rodentia Family: Erethizontidae

Pocket gophers

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Order: Rodentia Family: Geomyidae

Squirrels

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A yellow-bellied marmot

Order: Rodentia Family: Sciuridae

Shrews

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Order: Soricomorpha Family: Soricidae

  • Masked shrew, Sorex cinereus, montane and subalpine forests, riparian, meadow, alpine tundra, common
  • American pygmy shrew, Sorex hoyi, montane and subalpine forests, riparian, meadow, uncommon
  • Montane shrew, Sorex monticolus, montane and subalpine forests, riparian, meadow, common
  • Dwarf shrew, Sorex nanus, subalpine forests, meadow, alpine tundra, rare
  • American water shrew, Sorex palustris, lakes, streams, marshes, riparian, uncommon

References

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  1. ^ "Mammals - Rocky Mountain National Park". National Park Service. National Park Service.
  2. ^ "NPSpecies". NPSpecies. National Park Service.