Mountain Wildlife, Continental Divide

Life in the alpine zones of the Continental Divide Trail is tough; vegetation is sparse, and the air is thin.  Still, the isolation of the peaks means that many areas, especially places like the Rocky Mountain National Park and the Wind River Range, have a stunning amount of biodiversity and boast some of the most beautiful and fascinating fauna in the United States.

The Bighorn Sheep, a symbol of the Roky Mountain National Park, is sometimes seen at higher elevations.  ‘Big horn’ is no exaggeration; their horns weigh up to 30 lb (14 kg), which is about a tenth of their body weight!  The male sheep have the biggest horns, using them to bash against each other in struggles for dominance during their mating season.

Flying up high above the sheep are the soaring eagles.  Both golden eagles, with their wide, fingered wings and bald eagles are found on the slopes of the CDT.  

Bald eagles are always a thrilling sight, emblematic as thy are of the United States and though their detractors say they’re simply glorified seagulls, watching them dive into a mountain river rising clutching a silver fish in their talons is always an impressive sight. 

A less majestic, but still beautiful and fascinating bird found in the mountains is the white-tailed ptarmigan.  I find these small grouse cute, with their chubby, round bodies and the slightly goofy expression they wear.  The ptarmigan’s feathers turn completely white in summer, making them almost invisible among the glaciers and snowdrifts of the Rockies.

 

Then there are yellow-bellied marmots, who can beat even the ptarmigan in goofiness.  These highly social and quite eccentric little rodents burrow to hide from predators and perform distinctive little squeaks, clicks and trills when threatened.  They are famously docile around humans, and some have even been documented allowing humans to stroke their bellies.  Even so, it’s best not to touch or interfere with these wild creatures.