Mammals

Bighorn Sheep Yearlings
A group of Bighorn Sheep yearlings in winter

NPS

People have a soft spot for the mammals of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Altogether, 67 mammal species are known to be native to the area, but grizzly bears, gray wolves and bison were locally extirpated in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The lynx and wolverine are either extirpated or extremely rare. Moose are now commonly seen in the park, but they were not historically recorded as being part of this particular area of the Rocky Mountains.

A complete working species list can be viewed on the IRMA Portal NP Species website.

Click on the links below to learn more about these iconic animals in the park.

 
 
Beaver in a pond

Beaver

Beaver in a pond

Bighorn Sheep Rams

Bighorn Sheep

Bighorn Sheep Rams

Black bear in a field.

Black Bear

Black bear in a field.

Link to Wildlife Soundscapes Index

Wildlife Soundscapes Index

Wildlife in the park including elk, coyotes, squirrels and frogs.

Yellow-Bellied Marmot

Yellow-Bellied Marmot

Yellow-Bellied Marmot

Coyote in the field hunting for food.

Coyote

Coyote in the field hunting for food.

A colony of Townsend's big-eared bats are hanging upside down, sleeping

Bats

Did You Know - Rocky Mountain National Park is Home to 9 Known Species of Bats

Mountain Lion

Mountain Lion

Known as pumas, cougars and panthers, mountain lions thrive in Rocky Mountain National Park.

They are named for their oversized ears that resemble a mule's ears.

Mule Deer

They are named for their oversized ears that resemble a mule's ears.

Pikas are small mammals related to the rabbit family.

Pika

Pikas (Ochonta princeps) are small mammals related to the rabbit family, even though they look more like a hamster.

Snowshoe hares have large hind feet, long ears, short tails and a typical rabbit shape.

Snowshoe Hare

They have large hind feet, long ears, short tails and a typical rabbit shape.

Squirrel sitting on a rock

Diseases Transmitted Animals to Humans

Diseases Transmitted Animals to Humans

Last updated: October 24, 2022

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

1000 US Hwy 36
Estes Park, CO 80517

Phone:

970 586-1206
The Information Office is open year-round: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. daily in summer; 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Mondays - Fridays and 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Saturdays - Sundays in winter. Recorded Trail Ridge Road status: (970) 586-1222.

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