by: Colorado Wildlife Federation Life on the Prairie by: Colorado Wildlife Federation photo by: Maria Stelacio

Colorado Wildlife Federation The Colorado Wildlife Federation is Colorado’s oldest and most effective wildlife conservation organization. We are advocates for our state’s wildlife. Our mission is to serve as determined stewards of our state’s wildlife and the winter range, migration corridors, reproduction areas and waterways they depend on to survive.

Wildlife Not a pet Not tamed or domesticated Examples: Wolf Mountain lion Bear Squirrel Fox Photo by: Maria Stelacio Photo by: Maria Stelacio

What four things do all animals need? Food \ water Shelter Space Oxygen/ air

Habitat A place where a plant or animal lives The life range of a plant or animal which includes: Food / water Shelter Space Oxygen / air Examples of habitats: Forest Ocean Tree Open field photo by: Maria Stelacio

Picture the prairie 200 years ago. What would you see? grass bison prairie dogs Native Americans teepees open spaces very few trees flat land / no mountains

History of Colorado Prairie northern Colorado: Cheyenne & Arapahoe southern Colorado: Kiowas & Comanches eastern Colorado: Pawnee & Sioux sonofthesouth.net/.../cheyenne/cheyenne.jpg getboulder.com/images/summer05/arapahoe.jpg legendsofamerica.com/.../ChiefSantana.jpg co.kerr.tx.us/.../Comanche_Iindian_Group.jpg castlejb.com/jbpages/indiancity/pawnee.jpg legendsofamerica.com/photos-nativeamerica..

History of Colorado prairie 1803 Louisiana purchase explorers: Lewis and Clark; Zebulon Pike, Stephen H. Long 1820 – 1840 mountain men and trappers 1859 Colorado gold rush farmers, ranchers lewisclarknw.com/images/LewisClark.jpg sonofthesouth.net/.../zebulon-pike.jpg dupagehistory.org/.../image014.jpg photo by: Maria Stelacio

History of Colorado prairie Increase in people resulted in decrease in animals Fewer beaver, pronghorn, black-footed-ferret Today no wild bison and no wolves in Colorado photo by: Maria Stelacio

Pronghorn Fastest land animal in North America Speeds up to 60 mph Important adaptation because… Few trees Flat Very little cover digital-images.net/.../1/Pronghorn_0211.jpg canadianfauna.com

Red Fox Not native to United States Adaptable From Europe Adaptable No competition from wolves Found near streams and wetlands king.portlandschools.org/files/houses/y6/anim cwsd.org

Ring-necked Pheasant Brought to North America from China Adapted well to prairie fws.gov/jclarksalyer/deslacs/jpg/ringneck.jpg sdakotabirds.com/species/photos/ringed_necked

Western Meadowlark Very common bird of Colorado prairie Unique song Males use to defend territory Eats insects and seeds Nest Dome shaped structure on ground utahbirds.org/.../WesternMeadowlarkJH2.jpg

Coyote Found just about anywhere in Colorado Adaptable larryhotz.com/wp-content/files/coyote.jpg Found just about anywhere in Colorado Adaptable No longer competes with wolf for food savethecoyote.org/images/coyote-3.jpg

Lark Bunting Colorado State Bird Breeds on short grass prairie in summer Winters in Texas and Mexico birdwatching-bliss.com/.../lark_bunting.jpg ucsc.edu/.../img/2008/01/female_LkBu-300.jpg

Burrowing Owl Nests in holes in ground Lines nest with manure Uses holes of prairie dogs, kangaroo rats & ground squirrels Lines nest with manure Eats insects along with voles, mice, small birds, lizards and toads environmentaldefense.org/content_Images/B... nabci-us.org/images/burrowing%20owl%20wit...

Prairie Dogs Important part of prairie habitat Major food source for birds of prey Declining numbers threaten bird populations nps.gov/.../images/Prairie-Dogs.jpg parks.ci.lubbock.tx.us/Prairie%20Dog%20scan%2

Ferruginous Hawk Rely on prairie dogs for food Largest hawk in North America scienceblogs.com hawkquest.org/mews/Ferruginous_Hawk.jpg

Prairie Chicken In spring mating ritual takes place on booming grounds Greater Prairie Chicken CDOW allows hunting as of 2001 Lesser Prairie Chicken State threatened species tarleton.edu/~Sudman/prairie.jpg ksbirds.org/.../gpc_2007/portrait_7531s.jpg nature.org/.../images/male_lpc_display.jpg

Red-headed Woodpecker Relies on trees Settlers planted trees on prairie audubon2.org/watchlist/images/birds/Red-heade birdsource.org

Rattlesnakes Live at elevations up to 9,500 feet Hibernates in rodent burrows Largest predator is humans People rarely die 1/3 of bites are dry Venomous Injects venom with fangs Takes time to build up venom Can inject venom an hour after death 3 types in Colorado Prairie rattlesnake Midget rattlesnake Massasauga photo taken by: Maria Stelacio photo taken by: Maria Stelacio

Bullsnake Non venomous constrictor Many killed every year by people Important part of ecosystem Eats rodents Food for raptors texassnakes.net/bullsnake.jpg

Bats Eat insects Some migrate & some hibernate 18 species of bats in Colorado Big brown bat Long-legged myotis Big free-tailed bat Pallid bat Brazilian free-tailed bat Red bat California myotis Silver-haired bat Western pipistrelle tpwd.state.tx.us Eastern pipistrelle Spotted bat Fringed myotis Townsend’s big-eared bat Hoary bat Western small-footed myotis Long-eared myotis Little brown bat Yuman myotis education.luther.edu

On behalf of the Colorado Wildlife Federation thank you. Credits Created by: Maria Stelacio Technical assistant: Quinn P McGarrigle