This process didn’t happen overnight, of course. The best place to find them is near water and in thick willow stands. Moose (Alces alces shirasi) are the largest member of the deer family, with individuals reaching weights of between 800 and 900 pounds.The subspecies of moose found in Colorado, as well as throughout the southern Rocky Mountains, is the Shiras subspecies.This subspecies is smaller than that of northern latitudes, particularly in regards to antler size. Physical Appearance. 17, the Cheesman Ranch Trail, and Trail 33, which is Buffalo Rock, and Trail 34, which is Cahill Pond. GMU's (Game Management Units) 17/171. Moose Viewing. More Moose 8. 10. Bulls stand up to 6 feet at the shoulder. Beavers work mostly at night. Until 20 years ago Moose were very scarce in Colorado. You'll have to go farther north, say to central Wyoming (Wind River Range). Moose in Colorado mostly are not just visiting or there by accident. Wildlife Calendar Moose viewing comes with risks, as we learned from one state official, but it can also be rewarding to see them in their breathtaking Colorado habitat. Birds are easier to find in early morning. Colorado Moose: Viewing Safety. From here you can see Grand Lake in the distance. As soon as an animal begins changing its behavior in reaction to you, you’re too close. Moose … Amenities. Visitors see moose fairly frequently along Highway 34 in the Kawuneeche Valley. Coloring - Their rumps are brown, not white or cream colored as found in deer, elk, or pronghorn. Feb 4, 2011 (Last modified Oct 5, 2011 ... COLORADO DIVISION OF WILDLIFE ... Click here to see the full FGDC XML file that was created in Data Basin for this layer. No moose for me. This region is comprised of over a million acres and is one of the best units in Colorado to harvest a giant bull. “The moose in and around Steamboat showed up essentially on their own from the transplants that occurred in the mid-1970s in North Park,” says Brad Petch, Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s senior terrestrial biologist for the … Parks and Wildlife officers warn us to not become friendly with the moose. Check in at the visitor center to see where these strange beasts are hanging out. New England Moose-Watching Advice The Animal That People Want to See the Most. Colorado Parks and Wildlife decided that Colorado should have a moose population, even a large one, and not rely on a few stray moose wandering into the state from Wyoming. Quick Guide to Colorado's Scenic & Historic Byways . Encircled by mountain ranges, North Park is a secluded and pristine region. The thing about Shiras moose is that it isn’t just the smallest of North American moose … Wildlife in a natural habitat should always be respected and viewed from a distance. Visitors may see moose at almost any time of the day. Moose! Moose Hunting Location - Jackson County, CO - Units 17 & 171. The lifetime bag limit for bull moose is one, making it in Colorado literally a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Clay said, one denied to some despite their 20, 30, or even 40 years of trying. Piney road up to piney lake out if vail I almost always see moose also. Where to photograph wildlife in Colorado Rocky Mountain Arsenal – Bison. Elk with Bling 3. Home to thousands of elk, mule deer, moose, marmots, bighorn sheep and the occasional black bear, it's not uncommon to see … So are marmots, squirrels, and chipmunks. A woman in Colorado made the mistake of trying to pet a moose as it wandered through downtown Breckenridge last week, nearly getting attacked … Notes: This access to the trail is closed on weekdays through November 2016, but … Check the calendar for ranger programs that focus on animals. Cute Critters 2. So, you wanna see wildlife within 2 hours of Denver? See Colorado’s Serengeti 4. I second grand lake and the Colorado river area on the west side of the park. It also features information on the park and its wildlife. North Park isn't called the Moose Viewing Capital of Colorado for nothing. It is a sure thing you’ll get some spectacular wildlife photos. Babies! Good spots include the Onahu Creek Trail, willow stands along the Colorado River next to Timber Creek Campground and in Lulu City. The hike to East Meadow begins at the East Inlet trailhead at 8,390 ft in elevation. Take the Colorado Trail until you see what you want. Operated by the Colorado State Forest State Park and located near the former logging camp of Gould, the Center tells the story of the North Park moose and early timber camps. Moose sightings are a regular occurrence, this time of year especially. Unless things have changed a lot the past 10-15 years, moose are not found that far south. Walls of Snow 6. Moose in northern Colorado? Top Spots to See Wildlife in Colorado You can book excursions to various wildlife hot spots. “Your best bet of seeing elk is Trail No. 5. When viewing Colorado moose on a jeep tour near Vail, it’s important to listen to your guide’s safety instructions. But bighorn sheep are active all day. 14 Reasons to Drive Trail Ridge Road Right Now (or Where to Find Moose in Colorado)… 1. The moose (alces alces) is the largest member of the deer family, and also the largest wild animal to inhabit Rocky Mountain National Park.When we say moose are large, we mean it: male moose, called bulls, average up to 7 feet all at the shoulder, and can weigh in excess of 1,500 pounds! To keep moose – and you – safe, don’t approach, chase, follow, surround or feed them, and always observe from a distance. Moose-watching is best done by car—just don’t stop too close to them or get out of the vehicle.Remember: These are wild animals and always should be treated with respect and caution. Ask a ranger about how to find animals. Moose Concentration Area. We spent our time in Grand Lake splashing in the largest natural lake in Colorado, eating pizza at White Buffalo, and hiking to East Meadow where we spotted a moose. As the moose population grows, moose will continue to move out of the core locations where they were initially introduced (North Park, Grand Mesa) and into adjacent areas that may provide suitable … Meeker is well known for hosting one of the largest elk herds in the world. In this video we visit one of Colorado's State Parks, State Forest State Park, in northern Colorado. Seeing wildlife in Colorado's national parks evokes a rush of excitement so great it's hard to remember there isn't a piece of glass between you and the animals. In fact, our moose population is doing so well that it’s growing more rapidly than in most other states. On land, you may spy bighorn sheep, bison, elk, moose and, perhaps, if you are lucky, black bears. Now moose sightings occur almost daily. Size - Colorado’s Shiras moose (Alces alces shirasi) are the state's largest big game animal with adults weighing 800 to 1,200 pounds.Bulls stand up to 6 feet at the shoulder. As one of the wettest places in Colorado, Steamboat’s weather pattern and foliage of willows, aspens, berries and alpine shrubs make it attractive to moose. 7. Start looking along Trail Ridge Road from the Colorado River Trailhead all the way to Grand Lake. You won’t find moose at Mueller State Park, but the elk, mule deer and turkeys are running wild, said park ranger Luke Svare. In Colorado, moose are most often found in North Park, near Walden, which bills itself as the "Moose Viewing Capital of Colorado." See a whole herd of elk. Answer 1 of 4: We went in after 5 today and had a great time (since we missed getting our timed entry permit). We made it up to Alpine, saw 6 bighorn sheep, marmots, pikas, awesome elk, and to finish it off a huge moose. That makes it easy to spot an elk if you take a drive in any direction from town but one of the easiest ways to view wildlife is to drive on the Flat Tops Scenic and Historic Byway along County Road 8. Coloring - Their rumps are brown, not white or cream colored as found in deer, elk, or pronghorn. Additionally, Colorado’s moose population is expanding statewide. Elk, moose, and deer are most active at dawn and dusk. Each individual establishes a range and may stay in a given location for days or weeks. Prior to this, no moose could be found in the area. Size - Colorado’s Shiras moose (Alces alces shirasi) are Colorado’s largest big game animal with adults weighing 800 to 1,200 pounds. This depends on food availability and harassment. Rocky Mountain Arsenal is on the north side of Denver, just a 15-20 minute drive from... Rocky Mountain National Park – Elk. I once lived in that area and occasionally return to visit. Their docile nature can quickly turn aggressive if you are challenging territory shared with their young. You will typically hear a moose rustling in the brush before you see one- they aren’t the most graceful creatures. My parents frequently see them in … Shiras Moose, the smallest of North American Moose subspecies, occupies the Rocky Mountains, and can be found in the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and Utah. Look for moose in areas with aquatic vegetation and willows. And Still….More Moose!! One of the most frequent questions I’ve been asked since moving to Colorado years ago has always been, “Where can we find wildlife?” The first several times I just laughed and said, “good luck,” because I hadn’t seen any. Did you know that North Park is the Moose Viewing Capital of Colorado? Often spotted browsing among the willows of North Park, visitors can honestly see moose anywhere in Jackson County, including downtown Walden! Location. The best place to see moose is the western side of RMNP and in the Grand Lake area. A couple hours north of Denver, the likelihood of seeing a moose is higher here than just about anyplace else in the Colorado (although not as good as the prime Canadian and Maine spots).