Flora, fauna, & funga
Phone apps
Using FREE apps like iNaturalist and Merlin turns your phone into a field guide. iNaturalist is helpful for identifying plants, insects, and broader wildlife using photos, while Merlin specializes in birding by sight and sound. Together, they make learning about nature at the MRS fun and accessible.
iNaturalist - Discover nature around you
Want to see what species have been seen in the area around the MRS and on Niwot Ridge? Or log your own observations and photos? You'll be in good company. The MRS project on iNaturalist has 300+ observers... who have made 5,000+ observations of 900+ species!
Click a category below to see a species list for the MRS:
For iOS and Android downloads, scroll to bottom of the iNaturalist page
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab - Identify birds you see & hear
Merlin features the best of community contributed photos, songs, and calls, tips from experts around the world to help you ID the birds you see, and range maps from Birds of the World—all powered by billions of bird observations submitted to eBird.
- Identify bird songs and calls.
- Identify birds in a photo.
- Bird ID Wizard—Step-by-step.
- Save birds to your life list.
- Explore lists of birds near you.
For iOS and Android downloads, look near the top of the Merlin page
Flora
Plant communities
The area around the station has a variety of vegetation communities.
Lodgepole pine and aspen stands are found on the lower east and south-facing slopes. Lodgepole pine is replaced by subalpine spruce-fir forests at higher elevations. Limber pines occur in rocky terrain throughout forested areas.
In the transition zone between the closed subalpine forest and open alpine tundra, meadows are interspersed with islands of stunted coniferous trees and taller patches of forest.
Above the treeline, the alpine tundra is made up primarily of herbaceous plant communities and low willow shrubs. The highest, most rugged areas are unvegetated scree (loose rocks).
Aspen forest
Spruce/fir forest
Transitional meadow
(Photo: W. Bowman)
Treeline/ krumholz
(Photo: C. Forrester)
Alpine tundra
(Photo: W. Bowman)
Unvegetated scree/talus
(Photo: J. Smith)
The text & photos above are modified from Niwot LTER
Plant photos
Plant list for the MRS
The below text-only list consists of 234 plants for the area around the Mountain Research Station. Note that the list focuses on the alpine, and does not include all subalpine and montane species.
The original iteration of this list was developed from materials provided to Susan Kindig by Marilyn Walker in 1993. Those materials were (1) a Saddle/Martinelli site species list developed from species that were identified during LTER years and (2) Komarkova (1979). Three additions to the list were supplied by Terry Theodose in 1994. Organization of species by families was accomplished by Marko Spasovic, UC Irvine, 2005. An update and reordering, with the addition of common names, was done by Jane Smith in 2017.
Phone users: You may need to scroll sideways a bit to see Family content in the third column of the table.
Species | Common Name | Family |
| Adoxa moschatellina | muskroot | Adoxaceae |
| Allium geyeri | Geyer’s onion | Alliaceae (Liliaceae, Amaryllidaceae) |
| Angelica grayi | Gray’s angelica | Apiaceae |
| Ligusticum tenuifolium | Idaho licorice-root | Apiaceae |
| Oreoxis alpina ssp. alpina | alpine oreoxis, alpine parsley | Apiaceae |
| Pseudocymopterus montanus | alpine springparsley, mountain springparsley | Apiaceae |
| Achillea millefolium var. alpicola | Garrett common yarrow | Asteraceae |
| Agoseris aurantiaca | orange agoseris | Asteraceae |
| Agoseris glauca var. glauca | pale agoseris | Asteraceae |
| Antennaria anaphaloides | pearly pussy-toes | Asteraceae |
| Antennaria media | Rocky Mountain pussy-toes | Asteraceae |
| Antennaria rosea | rosy pussy-toes | Asteraceae |
| Antennaria umbrinella | umber pussy-toes, mountain pussytoes | Asteraceae |
| Arnica cordifolia | heartleaf arnica | Asteraceae |
| Arnica rydbergii | Rydberg’s arnica | Asteraceae |
| Artemisia arctica ssp. arctica | boreal sagebrush, arctic sagewort, Norway sagewort, mountain sagewort | Asteraceae |
| Artemisia campestris var. purshii | field sagewort, boreal sagewort | Asteraceae |
| Artemisia pattersonii | Patterson’s wormwood, Patterson’s sagewort, alpine sagewort | Asteraceae |
| Artemisia scopulorum | alpine sagebrush, Rocky Mountain sagewort, dwarf sagewort | Asteraceae |
| Cirsium scopulorum | mountain thistle, Rocky Mountain thistle, alpine thistle | Asteraceae |
| Crepis runcinata ssp. runcinata | fiddleleaf hawksbeard | Asteraceae |
| Erigeron flagellaris | trailing fleabane | Asteraceae |
| Erigeron glacialis | glacial daisy | Asteraceae |
| Erigeron melanocephalus | blackhead fleabane, blackheaded daisy, blackhead daisy1 | Asteraceae |
| Erigeron pinnatisectus | featherleaf fleabane, pinnate-leaf daisy, featherleaf daisy1 | Asteraceae |
| Erigeron simplex | onestem fleabane, one-flower daisy, Rocky Mountain alpine daisy | Asteraceae |
| Heterotheca villosa | hairy false golden aster | Asteraceae |
| Hieracium gracile | wooly hawkweed | Asteraceae |
| Packera cana | woolly groundsel | Asteraceae |
| Packera crocata | saffron ragwort, saffron groundsel | Asteraceae |
| Senecio amplectens var. holmii | Holm’s ragwort, alpine groundsel | Asteraceae |
| Senecio fremontii var. blitoides | dwarf mountain ragwort, Fremont’s groundsel | Asteraceae |
| Senecio taraxacoides | dandelion ragwort, dandelion groundsel | Asteraceae |
| Senecio triangularis | arrowleaf ragwort | Asteraceae |
| Solidago multiradiata | Rocky Mountain goldenrod | Asteraceae |
| Solidago simplex var. simplex | Mt. Albert goldenrod | Asteraceae |
| Taraxacum officinale ssp. ceratophorum | common dandelion | Asteraceae |
| Tetraneuris acaulis var. caespitosa | caespitose four-nerve daisy, goldflower, old woman of the mountain | Asteraceae |
| Tetraneuris grandiflora | graylocks four-nerve daisy, old man of the mountain, alpine sunflower | Asteraceae |
| Tonestus lyallii | Lyall's goldenweed | Asteraceae |
| Tonestus pygmaeus | pygmy goldenweed, dwarf goldenweed | Asteraceae |
| Betula glandulosa | resin birch | Betulaceae |
| Betula occidentalis | water birch | Betulaceae |
| Eritrichium nanum | alpine forget-me-not | Boraginaceae |
| Mertensia ciliata | tall fringed bluebells, broad-leaf bluebells; streamside bluebells1 | Boraginaceae |
| Mertensia lanceolata var. lanceolata | prairie bluebells | Boraginaceae |
| Mertensia lanceolata var. nivalis | greenleaf chiming bells, green bluebells, snowy bluebells | Boraginaceae |
| Cardamine cordifolia | heartleaf bittercress | Brassicaceae |
| Draba aurea | golden draba | Brassicaceae |
| Draba cana | cushion draba | Brassicaceae |
| Draba crassa | thickleaf draba | Brassicaceae |
| Draba crassifolia | snowbed draba | Brassicaceae |
| Draba exunguiculata | clawless draba | Brassicaceae |
| Draba fladnizensis | Austrian draba, arctic draba | Brassicaceae |
| Draba lonchocarpa | lancepod draba, lancefruit draba | Brassicaceae |
| Draba streptocarpa | pretty draba, twisted-fruit draba | Brassicaceae |
| Erysimum capitatum var. purshii | Pursh’s wallflower | Brassicaceae |
| Noccaea fendleri ssp. glauca | alpine pennycress, mountain pennycress, mountain candytuft | Brassicaceae |
| Rorippa alpina | alpine yellowcress | Brassicaceae |
| Campanula rotundifolia | bluebell bellflower, mountain harebell, mountain bellflower | Campanulaceae |
| Campanula species | Campanulaceae | |
| Campanula uniflora | arctic bellflower, alpine harebell | Campanulaceae |
| Linnaea borealis | twinflower | Caprifoliaceae |
| Arenaria fendleri var. tweedyi | Tweedy’s sandwort, Fendler’s sandwort | Caryophyllaceae |
| Cerastium arvense ssp. strictum | field chickweed, prairie mouse-ear | Caryophyllaceae |
| Cerastium beeringianum ssp. earlei | Bering chickweed, alpine chickweed | Caryophyllaceae |
| Cerastium species | Caryophyllaceae | |
| Minuartia obtusiloba | alpine sandwort, twinflower sandwort, arctic sandwort | Caryophyllaceae |
| Minuartia rubella | beautiful sandwort, boreal sandwort | Caryophyllaceae |
| Paronychia pulvinata | Rocky Mountain nailwort, alpine nailwort | Caryophyllaceae |
| Sagina saginoides | arctic pearlwort | Caryophyllaceae |
| Silene acaulis ssp. subacaulescens | moss campion | Caryophyllaceae |
| Silene uralensis ssp. montana | mountain campion | Caryophyllaceae |
| Stellaria longipes ssp. longipes | long-stalked starwort | Caryophyllaceae |
| Stellaria species | Caryophyllaceae | |
| Stellaria umbellata | umbrella starwort, umbellate starwort | Caryophyllaceae |
| Rhodiola integrifolia | king's crown, ledge stonecrop | Crassulaceae |
| Rhodiola rhodantha | queen's crown, rose crown, redpod stonecrop | Crassulaceae |
| Sedum lanceolatum | yellow stonecrop , spearleaf stonecrop | Crassulaceae |
| Juniperus communis | common juniper | Cupressaceae |
| Carex albonigra | black and white sedge | Cyperaceae |
| Carex aquatilis var. stans | water sedge | Cyperaceae |
| Carex arapahoensis | Arapaho sedge | Cyperaceae |
| Carex capillaris | hair-like sedge | Cyperaceae |
| Carex capitata ssp. arctogena | capitate sedge | Cyperaceae |
| Carex ebenea | ebony sedge | Cyperaceae |
| Carex elynoides | blackroot sedge | Cyperaceae |
| Carex haydeniana | cloud sedge | Cyperaceae |
| Carex heteroneura var. chalciolepis | Holm's sedge | Cyperaceae |
| Carex illota | sheep sedge | Cyperaceae |
| Carex lachenalii | two-tipped sedge | Cyperaceae |
| Carex microglochin | few-seeded bog sedge | Cyperaceae |
| Carex misandra | short-leaved sedge | Cyperaceae |
| Carex nardina var. hepburnii | Hepburn’s sedge | Cyperaceae |
| Carex nelsonii | Nelson’s sedge | Cyperaceae |
| Carex nigricans | black alpine sedge | Cyperaceae |
| Carex nova | black sedge | Cyperaceae |
| Carex perglobosa | globe sedge | Cyperaceae |
| Carex phaeocephala | dunhead sedge | Cyperaceae |
| Carex praeceptorum | early sedge | Cyperaceae |
| Carex pyrenaica | Pyrenees sedge, Pyrenean sedge | Cyperaceae |
| Carex rossii | Ross’ sedge | Cyperaceae |
| Carex rupestris var. drummondiana | Drummond’s sedge | Cyperaceae |
| Carex scopulorum var. scopulorum | mountain sedge | Cyperaceae |
| Carex siccata | dryspike sedge | Cyperaceae |
| Carex vernacula | native sedge | Cyperaceae |
| Kobresia myosuroides | Bellardi bog sedge | Cyperaceae |
| Arctostaphylos uva-ursi | kinnikinnick, manzanita | Ericaceae |
| Kalmia microphylla | alpine laurel | Ericaceae |
| Vaccinium caespitosum | dwarf bilberry | Ericaceae |
| Vaccinium myrtillus | whortleberry | Ericaceae |
| Vaccinium scoparium | grouse whortleberry | Ericaceae |
| Trifolium dasyphyllum | alpine clover | Fabaceae |
| Trifolium nanum | dwarf clover | Fabaceae |
| Trifolium parryi ssp. parryi | Parry’s clover | Fabaceae |
| Frasera speciosa | elkweed | Gentianaceae |
| Gentiana algida | arctic gentian, whitish gentian | Gentianaceae |
| Gentiana parryi | Parry’s gentian | Gentianaceae |
| Gentiana prostrata | pygmy gentian | Gentianaceae |
| Gentianella amarella ssp. acuta | autumn dwarf gentian, Northern gentian | Gentianaceae |
| Gentianella amarella ssp. heterosepala | autumn dwarf gentian, Northern gentian | Gentianaceae |
| Gentianella tenella ssp. tenella | Dane's dwarf gentian, Lapland gentain | Gentianaceae |
| Gentianopsis barbellata | perennial fringed gentian | Gentianaceae |
| Swertia perennis | felwort | Gentianaceae |
| Phacelia sericea var. sericea | silky phacelia | Hydrophyllaceae |
| Juncus biglumis | two-flowered rush | Juncaceae |
| Juncus castaneus | chestnut rush | Juncaceae |
| Juncus drummondii | Drummond’s rush | Juncaceae |
| Juncus mertensianus | Merten's rush | Juncaceae |
| Juncus parryi | Parry's rush | Juncaceae |
| Juncus triglumis | three-hulled rush | Juncaceae |
| Luzula spicata | spiked woodrush | Juncaceae |
| Lloydia serotina var. serotina | alpine lily, common alplily | Liliaceae |
| Zigadenus elegans (ssp. elegans) | mountain deathcamas | Melanthiaceae (Liliaceae) |
| Claytonia megarhiza | alpine springbeauty, big-rooted springbeauty | Montiaceae1,3, Portulacaceae7 |
| Lewisia pygmaea var. pygmaea | alpine lewisia, pygmy bitterroot | Montiaceae1,3, Portulacaceae7 |
| Chamerion angustifolium | fireweed | Onagraceae |
| Chamerion latifolium | dwarf fireweed | Onagraceae |
| Epilobium anagallidifolium | pimpernel willow herb, alpine willowweed | Onagraceae |
| Castilleja occidentalis | western Indian paintbrush, western yellow paintbrush | Orobanchaceae (Scrophulariaceae) |
| Castilleja puberula | shortflower Indian paintbrush, alpine paintbrush | Orobanchaceae (Scrophulariaceae) |
| Catilleja rhexifolia | red Indian paintbrush | |
| Pedicularis groenlandica | elephanthead lousewort, elephant’s head | Orobanchaceae (Scrophulariaceae) |
| Pedicularis parryi | Parry’s lousewort | Orobanchaceae (Scrophulariaceae) |
| Pedicularis racemosa ssp. alba | sickletop lousewort | Orobanchaceae (Scrophulariaceae) |
| Pedicularis sudetica ssp. scopulorum | sudetic lousewort, alpine lousewort | Orobanchaceae (Scrophulariaceae) |
| Papaver radicatum ssp. Kluanensis | alpine poppy, rooted poppy | Papaveraceae |
| Abies lasiocarpa | subalpine fir | Pinaceae |
| Picea engelmannii | Engelmann spruce | Pinaceae |
| Pinus contorta | lodgepole pine | Pinaceae |
| Pinus flexilis | limber pine | Pinaceae |
| Besseya alpina | alpine kittentails, alpine besseya | Plantaginaceae (Scrophulariaceae) |
| Chionophila jamesii | Rocky Mountain snowlover, James' snowlover | Plantaginaceae (Scrophulariaceae) |
| Penstemon procerus | littleflower penstemon | Plantaginaceae (Scrophulariaceae) |
| Penstemon whippleanus | Whipple’s penstemon | Plantaginaceae (Scrophulariaceae) |
| Veronica wormskjoldii var. wormskjoldii | American alpine speedwell, alpine speedwell | Plantaginaceae (Scrophulariaceae) |
| Agrostis humilis | alpine bentgrass | Poaceae |
| Agrostis mertensii | northern bentgrass | Poaceae |
| Agrostis variabilis | mountain bentgrass | Poaceae |
| Calamagrostis canadensis | bluejoint | Poaceae |
| Calamagrostis purpurascens | purple reedgrass | Poaceae |
| Danthonia intermedia | timber oatgrass | Poaceae |
| Deschampsia caespitosa | tufted hairgrass | Poaceae |
| Elymus scribneri | spreading wheatgrass | Poaceae |
| Elymus trachycaulus | slender wheatgrass, bearded wheatgrass | Poaceae |
| Festuca baffinensis | Baffin fescue | Poaceae |
| Festuca brachyphylla | alpine fescue, Colorado fescue, shortleaf fescue | Poaceae |
| Festuca rubra | red fescue | Poaceae |
| Helictotrichon mortonianum | Morton’s alpine oatgrass | Poaceae |
| Phippsia algida | Poaceae | |
| Phleum alpinum | alpine timothy | Poaceae |
| Phleum pratense | timothy | Poaceae |
| Poa abbreviata ssp. pattersonii | Patterson’s bluegrass | Poaceae |
| Poa alpina ssp. alpina | alpine bluegrass | Poaceae |
| Poa arctica ssp. grayana | arctic bluegrass | Poaceae |
| Poa cusickii ssp. epilis | Cusick's bluegrass | Poaceae |
| Poa fendleriana | muttongrass | Poaceae |
| Poa glauca ssp. rupicola | timberline bluegrass | Poaceae |
| Poa lettermanii | Letterman's bluegrass | Poaceae |
| Poa pratensis ssp. pratensis | Kentucky bluegrass | Poaceae |
| Poa reflexa | nodding bluegrass | Poaceae |
| Poa wheeleri | Wheeler's bluegrass | Poaceae |
| Trisetum spicatum | spike trisetum | Poaceae |
| Phlox pulvinata | cushion phlox | Polemoniaceae |
| Polemonium pulcherrimum ssp. delicatum | Jacob’s ladder | Polemoniaceae |
| Polemonium viscosum | sky pilot, sticky polemonium | Polemoniaceae |
| Bistorta vivipara | alpine bistort | Polygonaceae |
| Bistorta bistortoides | American bistort | Polygonaceae |
| Oxyria digyna | alpine mountain-sorrel, alpine sorrel | Polygonaceae |
| Polygonum douglasii ssp. douglasii | Douglas’ knotweed | Polygonaceae |
| Androsace septentrionalis | pygmyflower rockjasmine, rock primrose | Primulaceae |
| Dodecatheon pulchellum var. pulchellum | darkthroat shooting star | Primulaceae |
| Primula angustifolia | alpine primrose | Primulaceae |
| Primula parryi | Parry’s primrose | Primulaceae |
| Anemone patens var. multifida | pasque flower, cutleaf anemone | Ranunculaceae |
| Aquilegia coerulea var. coerulea | Colorado blue columbine | Ranunculaceae |
| Aquilegia saximontana | Rocky Mountain blue columbine | Ranunculaceae |
| Caltha leptosepala | white marsh marigold, marsh marigold | Ranunculaceae |
| Ranunculus adoneus | alpine buttercup, snow buttercup | Ranunculaceae |
| Ranunculus eschscholtzii var. eschscholtzii | Eschscholtz’s buttercup, subalpine buttercup | Ranunculaceae |
| Ranunculus pygmaeus | pygmy buttercup | Ranunculaceae |
| Trollius albiflorus | white globeflower, American globeflower | Ranunculaceae |
| Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda | shrubby cinquefoil | Roseaceae |
| Dryas octopetala ssp. hookeriana | mountain dryad, Hooker’s mountain-avens | Roseaceae |
| Geum rossii var. turbinatum | Ross’ avens, alpine avens | Roseaceae |
| Potentilla concinna | elegant cinquefoil, early cinquefoil | Roseaceae |
| Potentilla diversifolia | varileaf cinquefoil, blueleaf cinquefoil | Roseaceae |
| Potentilla gracilis | slender cinquefoil | Roseaceae |
| Potentilla nivea | snow cinquefoil | Roseaceae |
| Potentilla ovina | sheep cinquefoil | Roseaceae |
| Potentilla rubricaulis | Rocky Mountain cinquefoil | Roseaceae |
| Potentilla uniflora | one-flower cinquefoil | Roseaceae |
| Rubus idaeus ssp. melanolasius | grayleaf red raspberry | Roseaceae |
| Sibbaldia procumbens | creeping sibbaldia | Roseaceae |
| Salix glauca ssp. glauca var. villosa | grayleaf willow | Salicaceae |
| Salix nivalis | snow willow | Salicaceae |
| Salix petrophila | alpine willow | Salicaceae |
| Salix planifolia | planeleaf willow, diamondleaf willow | Salicaceae |
| Chrysosplenium tetrandrum | northern golden saxifrage | Saxifragaceae |
| Heuchera parvifolia var. nivalis | little-leaf alumroot, alpine alumroot | Saxifragaceae |
| Saxifraga bronchialis ssp. austromontana | spotted saxifrage, dotted saxifrage, matted saxifrage | Saxifragaceae |
| Saxifraga caespitosa | tufted alpine saxifrage, tufted saxifrage | Saxifragaceae |
| Saxifraga cernua | nodding saxifrage | Saxifragaceae |
| Saxifraga chrysantha | golden saxifrage | Saxifragaceae |
| Saxifraga flagellaris ssp. crandallii | stoloniferous saxifrage | Saxifragaceae |
| Saxifraga odontoloma | brook saxifrage | Saxifragaceae |
| Saxifraga rhomboidea | snowball saxifrage, diamondleaf saxifrage | Saxifragaceae |
| Saxifraga rivularis | weak saxifrage | Saxifragaceae |
| Valeriana edulis var. edulis | tobacco root, edible valerian | Valerinaceae |
| Viola adunca | hookedspur violet, hook-spurred violet, mountain blue violet | Violaceae |
| Viola biflora | arctic yellow violet | Violaceae |
| Botrychium hesperium | western moonwort | Ophioglossaceae |
| Cryptogramma acrostichoides | American rockbrake | Cheilanthes |
| Cystopteris fragilis | brittle bladder fern | Dryopteridaceae |
See also: iNaturalist plant list for MRS >
Plant research at the MRS
Visit our Current research page and filter to just the Plants category.
Fauna
Animal overview
Animal life inhabiting the area around the station ranges from arthropods to birds and mammals.
A variety of bird species range from year-round residents like the white-tailed ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura) and mountain chickadees (Poecile gambeli) to more seasonal summer residents like the American pipit (Anthus rubescens), horned lark (Eremophila alpestris), white-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys), and broad-tailed hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus).
Of the 30 species of mammals observed in the area, approximately 20 are herbivores, and of these, 12 are small herbivores, ranging in size from mice and voles to marmots. Some are specialists of the boreal forests including the snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), while other spend their time in the rocky talus, like the adorable American pika (Ochotona princeps).
The large herbivorous mammals include elk (Cervus canadensis), moose (Alces alces), and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus).
Omnivorous and carnivorous species include the American marten (Martes americana), mountain lion (Felis concolor), bobcat (Felis rufus), and black bear (Ursus americanus).
Porcupine (Erithizon dorsatum) is transient species that we rarely spot at the station.
Aquatic environments are most commonly populated with a variety of zooplankton, macro-invertebrates, and some species of trout, along with our state amphibian, the tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum).
The text above is modified from Niwot LTER
Mammal list for the MRS
The below text-only list consists of 33 mammals for the area around the Mountain Research Station. Two mammals on this list are extirpated in the area (Grizzly Bear and Bison).
The below list is based on Armstrong, David M., James C. Halfpenny, and Charles H. Southwick. 2001. Vertebrates, in Bowman, W.D. and Seastedt, T.R. Structure and Function of an Alpine Ecosystem, Niwot Ridge, Colorado. pp 128- 156. Oxford University Press, New York.
Insectivora: Soricidae
- Masked Shrew--Sorex cinereus
- Dwarf Shrew--Sorex nanus
- Montane Shrew--Sorex monticolus
Lagomorpha: Ochotonidae
- American Pika--Ochotona princeps
Lagomorpha: Leporidae
- Snowshoe Hare--Lepus americanus
- White-tailed Jackrabbit--Lepus townsendii
Rodentia: Sciuridae
- Least Chipmunk--Tamias minimus
- Yellow-bellied Marmot--Marmota flaviventris
- Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel--Spermophilus lateralis
Rodentia: Geomyidae
- Northern Pocket Gopher--Thomomys talpoides
Rodentia: Muridae
- Deer Mouse--Peromyscus maniculatus
- Bushy-tailed Woodrat--Neotoma cinerea
- Southern Red-backed Vole--Clethrionomys gapperi
- Heather Vole--Phenacomys intermedius
- Montane Vole--Microtus montanus
- Long-tailed Vole--Microtus longicaudus
Rodentia: Zapodidae
- Western Jumping Mouse--Zapus princeps
Rodentia: Erethizontidae
- Porcupine--Erethizon dorsatum
Carnivora: Canidae
- Coyote--Canis latrans
- Gray Wolf--Canis lupus
- Red Fox--Vulpes vulpes
Carnivora: Ursidae
- Black Bear--Ursus americanus
- Grizzly Bear--Ursus arctos †
Carnivora: Mustelidae
- American Marten--Martes americana
- Short-tailed Weasel--Mustela erminea
- Long-tailed Weasel--Mustela frenata
- American Badger--Taxidea taxus
Carnivora: Felidae
- Mountain Lion--Felis concolor
- Bobcat--Felis rufus
Artiodactyla: Cervidae
- Wapiti, or American Elk--Cervus elaphus
- Mule Deer--Odocoileus hemionus
Artiodactyla: Bovidae
- Bison--Bison bison †
- Bighorn Sheep--Ovis canadensis
† = extirpated within historic time
See also: iNaturalist mammal list for MRS >
Bird list for the MRS
The below text-only list consists of 23 birds for the area around the Mountain Research Station.
Data from Kingery and Graul (1978), Andrews and Righter (1992), and Kingery (1998). from: Armstrong, David M., James C. Halfpenny, and Charles H. Southwick. 2001. Vertebrates, in Bowman, W.D. and Seastedt, T.R. Structure and Function of an Alpine Ecosystem, Niwot Ridge, Colorado. pp 128- 156. Oxford University Press, New York.
(Status: r = year-around resident, breeder; b = summer resident, breeder; p = possible breeder; n = summer visitor, non?breeder; m = migrant.)
Falconiformes: Accipitridae--Hawks
- Northern Harrier--Circus cyaneus (n)
- Red tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis (n)
- Swainson's Hawk Buteo swainsoni (n)
- Rough-legged Hawk--Buteo lagopus (n)
- Ferruginous Hawk--Buteo regalis (n)
- Golden Eagle Aguila chrysaetos (n)
Falconiformes: Falconidae--Falcons
- Prairie Falcon Falco mexicanus (n)
- Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus (m)
Galliformes: Phasianidae--Grouse
- White-tailed Ptarmigan--Lagopus leurucus (r)
Columbiformes: Columbidae--Doves
- Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura (n)
Passeriformes: Alaudidae--Larks
- Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris (b)
Passeriformes: Corvidae--Crows and allies
- Common Raven Corvus corax (n)
- Clark's Nutcracker Nucifraga columbiana (n)
Passeriformes: Troglodytidae--Wrens
- Rock Wren Salpinctes obsoletus (p)
Passeriformes: Turdidae--Thrushes
- American Robin Turdus migratorius (n)
- Mountain Bluebird Sialia currucoides (n)
Passeriformes: Motacillidae--Pipits
- American Pipit Anthus rubescens (b)
Passeriformes: Emberizidae, Emberizinae--Sparrows and Allies
- Vesper Sparrow Pooecetes gramineus (n)
- Savannah Sparrow--Passerculus sandwichensis (m)
- White crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys (b)
Passeriformes: Fringillidae--Finches
- Brown capped Rosy Finch Leucosticte arctoa (b)
See also: iNaturalist bird list for MRS >
Animal research at the MRS
Visit our Current research page and filter to just the Animals category.
Funga
Coming soon.
The format of this section will resemble the flora and fauna sections.
Want to see more visitor info?
From research and coursework to public visits, there are many ways to engage at the Mountain Research Station.
Please review our visitor pages to help you plan ahead and ensure a safe, enjoyable experience.