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

2. 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.

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

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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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..

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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...

17. 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

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

19. 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

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

21. 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

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

23. 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

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