Newsletter
134: Pleasing Fungus Beetle
Species: Gibbifer californicus
Colorado Wildlife
Newsletter
133: North American Racer
This non-venomous colubrid snake lives across the entire eastern half of Colorado. Luckily it does not seem too perturbed by human interaction, so this is its historical range and it is not endangered. They like to live in dry, grassy areas, and in Colorado they are found in canyons, open
Newsletter
132: Gray Wolf
Before we learn about today’s animal, we have some very exciting news about our state fish, the Greenback Cutthroat Trout (newsletter #64). This fish was once considered extinct and after a ten year extensive effort to restore it, they have been found naturally reproducing in Herman Gulch! We also
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131: Least Tern
Least, but not last (we've still got a LOT of animals to go)
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130: Western Fireflies
Today’s animal feels like a cryptid – a species that is rumored to be in Colorado but very rarely observed, tracked to remote locations and a remnant of a population from a time with a different climate regime. This is the western firefly, which is neither a fly, nor a
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129: Central Plains Milk Snake
The Central Plains Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum gentilis) is a species of Kingsnake – a genus of 45 subspecies who are known for their vibrant patterns and called “king” because they eat other snakes, similar to the King Cobra (the people who came up with these names were very invested in
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128: Fringed Myotis
Living in Ponderosa Pine woodland and other coniferous forests on both side of the Continental Divide, the Fringed Myotis is a species of vesper bat that roosts in caves, abandoned mines, and behind the loose bark of trees. They have never been seen in winter in Colorado, suggesting that they
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127: Suckermouth Minnow
Only two fish left in this series – and this one is a little guy, Phenacobius mirabilis, found in cool waters in the Mississippi River basin, including in the South Platte watershed in eastern Colorado. They eat plankton and aquatic invertebrates, and are themselves food for larger fish. They’re not
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126: Greater Sage Grouse
I teased this bird – the largest grouse in North America! – back in #81. They are fascinating, chicken-like creatures who mate in special areas called leks. We discussed leks also in #81. They are territories that the males – using their inflatable yellow pouches located on their breasts – defend and use as
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125: Odonata, Dragonflies and Damselflies
I was riding my bike the other day when I noticed a dragonfly hovering above the South Platte. Every time I see them, I am in awe of how long they have been around – their ancestors date to the early Carboniferous, millions of years before the time of the dinosaurs.
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124: Rocky Mountain Juniper, Utah Juniper, and One-Seed Juniper
Can you make gin from these? I tried with a Utah Juniper and it was awful but let me know if you had different results
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Midget Faded Rattlesnake (Western Rattlesnake)
I'm assuming the Wyoming Fish and Game Department considers "Fellas" to be a gender neutral term