Laserfiche WebLink
STATE OF COLORADO <br />Roy Romer, Governor <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL <br />( -- DMSION OF WILDLIFE <br />NI EpN1 pVPERTU1~tt E)ROYER <br />John W, MUmmd. DY reCLOr <br />6060 Broatlway <br />Denver, Colorado 80216 <br />Telephone: (303) 297-1192 <br />Ms. Susie Campbell Bell <br />P.O. Boz 312 <br />Cortez, CO 81321 <br />Dear Susie, <br /> <br />Nov. 12, 1997 <br />G~~~O <br />~`?®~ <br />`~OF~ <br />For WY ltll Yfe <br />For People <br />In reference to your inquiry as to the species of wildlife that utilize the area around your home South of <br />Cortez near County roads F and 21. There has been no formal wildlife study in this azea, however, by <br />applying causal observarions over my 8 yeazs in the area, known species/habitat relationships, and <br />documentation of known species to occur in the general azea, I can give you a rough idea of the wildlife <br />species composition that may occur in the area of your concern. <br />Large Mammals: There are two main species in this group that occur in your area, Mule deer and Mt. lion. <br />The azea supports a small residential herd of deer and the area is within critical winter range for deer <br />migrating to lower country from both the western end of Mesa Verde and the Ute Mountain to the east. <br />Lying between Ute Mt. and Mesa Verde the area serves as a migration corridor for big game. A healthy <br />.population of Mt. Lion inhabit the rocky canyons in the surrounding area and hunt the deer and small <br />.~ mammals associated with the area. <br />Small Mammals & Birds: A variety of both predator and prey species inhabit the semi-desert shrub lands <br />around your home. Prey species critical to this habitat include a variety of mice, rats, voles, ground <br />squirrels, jack rabbits, cottontail rabbits, shrews, lizazds, and prairie dogs. Examples of predators include: <br />gray, red and kit fox, coyote, bobcat, skunk, weasel, ringtail, raccoon, and badger. The lower areas South <br />and west of Cortez aze major hunting/wintering areas for birds of prey including golden aad bald eagles, <br />Red-tailed hawks, Harriers, Swainsons hawk, American Kestrel, great-horned and long-eared owls, etc. A <br />variety of neotropical birds along with pheasants and possibly gambel's quail inhabit the sagebrush and <br />nearby pinon/juniper and agricultural type habitat. To the east of your home on the Mesa Verde escarpment <br />there is a active peregrine falcon erie. Peregrine Falcons are listed federally as a threatened species and it is <br />not inconceivable that the falcons may also hunt the area around your home. <br />H~tiles: A variety of reptiles and amphibians occupy the habitat. These may include the New Mexico <br />Spadefoot, collared lizards, the lesser earless lizard, short-horned lizard, sagebrush lizard, fence, tree and <br />side-blotched lizazd and the Western and Plateau Whiptails. Snakes such as the night snake, bullsnake, <br />whipsnake, and western rattlesnake. <br />I hope this information is of some use to you. If I can help you in some other way please feel free to <br />contact me. <br />Sin r~ly, <br />Robin L. Olterman <br />District Wildlife Manager <br />Colo. Division of Wildlife <br /> <br />RESOURCES <br />