Local Wildlife

Ecosystems

Within Pueblo West's boundaries diverse, established ecosystems support plant and wildlife. From the plentiful Quail to the occasionally seen Red Fox, there is an abundant variety of native wildlife thriving throughout the Pinon-Juniper Woodlands and the Short-Grass Prairies surrounding our neighborhoods.

You may never have to go to the library to check out a book on the local "residents" that live within our neighborhoods, but you may want to anyway to learn a little bit about who's here and what they're doing during the course of the day.

Colorado's wildlife comes in various sizes, shapes and colors. Some you may never encounter or even see, while others you will probably come across daily. With proper planning and understanding, wildlife will never be a problem by respecting their right to live in the area where you have chosen to make your home, ensuring the enjoyment of your piece of paradise.

Species

Some of the species you may see along your travels are:

• Hares - including Cottontail and Jackrabbits
• Scaled Quail and their "dozen" young ones
• Burrowing Owls
• Black Tailed Prairie Dogs
• Red Fox and Kit Fox
• Snakes - including Prairie Rattle Snake, Bull Snake, and Red Racers
• Birds - including Golden Eagle, Red-Tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle
• Pronghorn
• Coyotes and their pups in the dark of night
• Mule Deer

And on occasion a bobcat, a bear, or even a moose may wander into your back yard.

All of these creatures are within their own ecosystem and nature has it's checks and balances, so what we do with our environment can have a lasting effect.

Nature can provide you with some wonderful neighbors. Rural development encroaches on the traditional habitat of eagles, coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions, rattlesnakes, prairie dogs and other animals and some of them can be dangerous and you need to know how to deal with them.

Safety

Many people who move to the rural areas of Colorado consider free roaming wildlife one of the most important assets to their property. Indeed, the abundance of wildlife species is one reason we enjoy Colorado’s rural areas. As we continue to share these areas with wildlife, the number of conflicts with our new neighbors increases. The key to "conflict resolution" is found in our ability to understand these animals and how we use that knowledge to reduce these tensions.

Keep your pets in your yard or always on a leash, watch what you pick up outside (always a good idea to be careful when moving a pile of brush or even a potted plant on the ground - anything that might create a nice resting spot for snakes) and watch where you are walking through a field. Don't feed any of these animals either - as cute as some of them are, you want them to be scared of you!

Oh, and for goodness sake, don't crack your screen or garage doors. Snakes just love that.