For those of you who are curious but may not know, here is your guide to Colorado Mountain Animals.

Let’s be honest with ourselves. As hard as it is to believe, there are some people who live in Colorado that just aren’t outdoorsy people! If you’re the type who likes to stick to the mile-high level, there is a world of animals you probably don’t know that much about! We’ve got your guide to Colorado mountain animals that will make you seem like an expert.   Elk [gallery size="large" ids="3587,3586,3585"] Photos by: ML Hobby Photography Possibly one of the most famous/popular Colorado mountain animals, the Elk has made a name for itself, especially in Estes Park. The Elk Rut has a full festival attached to it, celebrating mating season amongst these over-gown-deer. The Elk flood Estes, making for some beautiful, and dangerous wildlife photo opportunities! Lynxes [gallery size="large" ids="3539,3542,3543"] “Lynx” is kind of an umbrella term describing medium-sized wild cats. You’d be hard pressed to actually see these guys prowling around the mountains unless you stay very still and very patient. Regardless if you’re lucky enough to spot one, take plenty of pictures, these elusive kitties are hard to spot! Black Bears [gallery size="large" ids="3549,3550,3551,3552"] Another one of our famous Colorado mountain animals. The black bears are nowhere near as elusive as the lynxes. Prone to exploring neighborhood trash cans and crashing campsites, black bears pretty must have one objective… food. Pika [gallery size="large" ids="3553,3554,3555,3556"] One of my personal favorite Colorado mountain animals!! Pika are known as mountain teddybears and rightfully so, they are adorable. Unfortunately, they are EXTREMELY fragile! Don’t expect to see these adorable little fuzzballs in a local pet store. They live and survive at the highest parts of mountains, you can find them when you almost reach 14,000 where vegetation sparsely grows and it’s pretty cold. Why? Pika die if their body temperature goes above 75 degrees fahrenheit. :-( Marmots https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP3unRZ4g7A Also known as WHISTLE PIGS! Let us take a moment to casually chuckle to ourselves over that pioneer-given name to these Colorado mountain animals. Marmots are big, fluffy, and have some gnarly teeth. The video should explain how they got their name. Take the drive up to Mt. Evans early enough and keep a close eye on the side of the road. You will see PLENTY while still being in the comfort of your car. Bighorn Sheep [gallery size="large" ids="3557,3558,3559,3560"] Clearly these sheep were given their names because of their big horns. A horn can weigh up to 30 pounds, while the sheep themselves can get up to 300 pounds. This was actually news to me, I thought they wouldn’t weigh that much. Sheep originally made their way over via the Bering land bridge from Siberia, as their populations reached into the millions they found their way into Native American folklore. By 1900 though, their populations dipped due to diseases and overhunting. Porcupine [gallery size="large" ids="3562,3563,3564,3565"] I’m sure even you indoorsey folks have heard of a porcupine! But did you know they were Colorado mountain animals? Have you ever even thought about where porcupines lived? No, because you’re selfish. Mountain Goats [gallery size="large" ids="3578,3577,3576,3575"] Huge white fluffy balls of goaty-goodness. This large hoofed mammal hails from North America and is an excellent climber. I’m sure you’ve seen pictures of death-defying goats barely standing on cliff-sides. Mountain goats are hardcore, and the kids look like fluffy white dogs. Moose [gallery size="large" ids="3581,3584"] Moose are the largest extant species in the deer family. Big, powerful, and casually ridden by Teddy Roosevelt. The moose are NOTHING like their docile deer cousins, if you spot a moose, I hope you’re at a safe distance because these big boys are very temperamental. After a slight extinction scare due to hunting, moose have been reintroduced to some of their former habitats. Moose are pretty solitary animals, not living in groups or packs. These are just a few of the great Colorado mountain animals our state has to offer. I’d highly recommend getting out of your comfort zone, getting outside and attempting to see some of these animals yourself! Remember though, these animals are wild and you should respect them and keep your distance! This is was zoom cameras were invented for! Want to check out some more Colorado greatness? Click here to see how colorful Colorado can be!