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<br />
<br />Strange And Wonderful Creatures
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<br />The high plains and river valleys
<br />of Northeast Colorado are home to a
<br />diversity of wildlife - and a play-
<br />ground for many unique and unex-
<br />pected creatures. Although much of
<br />what was once a vast buffalo grazing
<br />ground is now used for modem
<br />cattIe, sheep and grain production,
<br />thousands of acres remain for deer,
<br />antelope and unusual beasts that can
<br />be found nowhere else on earth.
<br />The first residents of the region
<br />are actually prehistoric. Evidence
<br />>h,,> h'1()'p riinn"::lIIT<;. mammoths and
<br />".1.1"""",, .....-tJ- --_.~-_......--, - -
<br />predecessors of the modem horse
<br />once inhabited the land, exist today
<br />at many local museums and ar-
<br />chaeological sites.
<br />Northeast Colorado is probably
<br />best known for its prong-homed an-
<br />telope. Travelers often spot this
<br />feisty creature springing across the
<br />plains at speeds close to, or above,
<br />their own car speed. Antelope have
<br />been wandering the plains since the
<br />days of the Indians, and have en-
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<br />dured the environmental changes of
<br />the years. Today they are one of the
<br />larger game species in the region, liv-
<br />ing as buffalo once did, grazing off
<br />plentiful grasslands.
<br />Other big game in the region in-
<br />clude mule deer and whitetail deer.
<br />Mule deer are distinguished by their
<br />large ears, dark coat and stocky ap-
<br />pearance, while the whitetail deer is
<br />marked by its lean stance and snowy
<br />tail.
<br />Although buffalo no longer roam
<br />t~n~l" ",...."'cc thp nhin.., ..m::l11 hf'rds can
<br />.1.1iC~.l] _'-..........u..... .......- r--~.-' ----.-. .
<br />
<br />often be seen grazing in the hills of
<br />Price Ranch in Sedgwick and Herbst
<br />Ranch just south of Kiowa. Along
<br />Highway 86 between 1-70 and Kiowa,
<br />you can get a glimpse of up to
<br />1000 buffalo if you're lucky.
<br />Many wildlife reserves across
<br />the region provide a home to
<br />other endangered species such
<br />as pelicans, bald eagles, per-
<br />egrine falcons, owls, black
<br />footed ferrets, red tail hawks,
<br />otters, blue herons, and swift
<br />fox.
<br />Northeast Colorado has
<br />its share of fowl-feathered
<br />friends as well. Hunters can
<br />enjoy the chase for game birds
<br />like the ringneck pheasant,
<br />bobwhite quail, wild turkey
<br />
<br />and doves. Phillips and
<br />Yuma County are known as
<br />prime prairie chicken-boom-
<br />ing ground - every spring,
<br />observation groups and indi-
<br />vidual explorers come from
<br />all over the country to wit-
<br />ness this fascinating ritual of
<br />nature. The region's many
<br />reservoirs are home to such
<br />waterfowl as Canadian
<br />geese, snow geese, mallard
<br />ducks, teal ducks and pintail
<br />ducks. Well over 200 bird
<br />species, including egrets,
<br />cormorants, Lark Bunting -
<br />the Colorado state bird,
<br />meadow larks, homed larks,
<br />Longspur's Larks, Cassin's
<br />Sparrows and ferruginous
<br />hawks, prairie falcons, great
<br />homed owls, and diskcissels
<br />provide viewing opportuni-
<br />ties for bird-watchers.
<br />At night, if one listens
<br />very carefully, the sound of a
<br />howling coyote can be heard
<br />from a distant hillside.
<br />Within the nooks and cran-
<br />nies of the plains, trapping
<br />creatures such as badgers,
<br />beavers, bobcats, muskrats
<br />and skunks can be found.
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