Wildlife viewing abounds in Ouray. It is not uncommon to see herds of elk grazing in the surrounding fields, spot a bald eagle flying high over the Uncompaghre River, surprise a few big horn sheep on the rocky outcrops on the north end of town, or even encounter a deer sauntering down Main Street in the early evening.
Our region is host to a wide variety of wildlife. Depending on your itinerary, you are likely to see pikas, marmots, pheasants, ptarmigan, deer, elk, big horn sheep, native varieties of trout, bald eagles, a huge number of mountain and sagebrush songbirds, and occasionally a black bear or even a reclusive mountain lion. Make it a family activity to identify as many as you can as you pass through the area. more info
Visit the Colorado Division of Wildlife’s website for more information on wildlife viewing in our area.
While wildlife is incredible to encounter in its native habitat, it is important to follow a few ground rules, especially when traveling in bear country. The black bears of our region are generally shy and avoid human contact, but today bears are sharing space with a growing human population. Curious, intelligent, and very resourceful, black bears will explore all possible food sources. If they find food near homes, campgrounds, vehicles, or communities, they’ll come back for more. Bears will work hard to get the calories they need, and can easily damage property, vehicles, and homes. Bears that become aggressive in their pursuit of an easy meal must often be destroyed. However, there are some precautions you can take to avoid encounters with black bears if you camp or travel in bear country. Visit the Colorado Division of Wildlife for some simple pointers on traveling safely through the mountains – for you and the bears.
