Chapter II: Part 2

Common in the montane and subalpine forests of the region, the "quill pig" has been able to thrive because his potential predators can seldom discover that the only way to kill him, is to flip him over on his back and rip open his belly. Many interested animals, however, come away from a porky contact with a face or skin full of painful quills. Porcupine protect themselves by quick erection of masses of quills and by swift defensive swings of the spiny tail. These quills number up to 35,000 on a single animal. They spend most of their time clinging high in the tree branches, feeding on the green foliage and the inner bark of pine trees. This accounts for the yellow "bare" patches sometimes seen on tree trunks. However, they have a strong predilection for anything containing even a fraction of salt; they will eat boots, axe handles, gun stocks, outhouse wood, and parts of buildings--anything where human perspiration has left a salty deposit. Porcupines, as well as smaller rodents, devour many elk and deer antlers left in the woods. They have a strange assortment of guttural sounds and cries which are sometimes heard at night. These uncanny noises emitting from the dark create interesting possibilities for more imaginative minds. The highly controversial question of porcupine mating is solved when we understand that the female has the muscular power of pulling in her quills closely to the body contour, permitting normal mating procedure. The single young is born in well-developed condition, but still enclosed in a membranous sack.

MARMOT (Marmota flaviventris luteola)

A medium sized western woodchuck having a variable shade of
reddish-brown fur and a dark brown tail. Has a small band of white
across the face. Total length up to 2½ feet and weight up to 20
pounds. They are 2 or 3 times larger than ground squirrels.

Marmots or "whistle pigs" as they are often called, are among the most easily observed mammals in the Rockies. They are found everywhere, particularly in rocky slides, boulder, and cliff areas from the Park boundary up to the tops of the highest peaks. Most of the parking area "feeding grounds" on the Trail Ridge Road contain their share of marmots, which ordinarily feed on seeds, flowers, and grasses. They are a socially-minded animal, often living in small communities and posting a sentinel to give a high, shrill whistle at the first sign of danger. When sufficiently fattened in the fall, they find a snug hole in the rocks and drop off in the slow, deep sleep of the "true" hibernators.

ABERT SQUIRREL (Sciurus aberti ferreus)

A large, heavy-bodied tree squirrel with a long, bushy tail. Has 3
distinct color phases; gray, dark brown, and black, all of which are
common in the Park. Has long ear-tufts which are shed in the spring
and grown out again by fall. Total length 20 inches.

Of the two kinds of tree squirrels in the Park, the aristocratic-appearing abert or tufted-ear squirrel is predominant in the montane or yellow pine valleys and ridges. They feed on the fine branches of yellow pine and on pine cone seeds. Their large, bulky nests of twigs and pine needles are placed high in the trees and are difficult to locate.

CHICKAREE (Sciurus fremonti fremonti)

A small, alert tree squirrel with back and sides a grayish-rust color;
white underparts. Tail is white fringed. Distinguished from the abert
squirrel by smaller size and the narrow white line around the eye.
Total length is 13 inches. Formerly known as Fremont's squirrel.

This little chickaree or pine squirrel (as he is often called) is the chattering "alarm box" of the spruce-fir forests. They prefer the cool, denser, subalpine forests well above the range of the tufted-ear squirrel. Feeding chiefly on seeds of evergreen cones, they often leave great heaps of cone debris at their feeding places. The cones they bury for future use are often neglected and young seedling trees may thus spring up about their storage areas.

RICHARDSON GROUND SQUIRREL (Citellus richardsonii elegans)

A pale brown squirrel with a relatively short tail and a
characteristically stiff, erect posture on occasion, which alone is
enough for identification. Total length about 11 inches. Widely
distributed in the west and formerly called Wyoming ground squirrel or
picket-pin gopher in the southern Rockies. It is not a gopher.

These gregarious little fellows so frequently seen, alert and erect along the roadsides, have invaded the flat mountain meadows from the lower foothills. Living in colonies somewhat like prairie dogs (not found in this region), their groups of small mounds are often scattered in the grass near fields that have been cultivated to hay crops.

GOLDEN-MANTLED GROUND SQUIRREL (Callospermophilus lateralis lateralis)

Larger than a chipmunk, chestnut-gray on head and back. Distinguished
from chipmunks by having black and white strips on its sides (none
down the middle of the back) and by having a plain face with no
stripping. Not as nervous and quick as the chipmunk. Total length 11
inches. Formerly called Say's ground squirrel in this locality.

These trusting little fellows are the most commonly seen, photographed, and fed animals in the Park, (including the rangers). Dozens of these beautifully striped squirrels compete with chipmunks throughout the area for visitor "hand-outs" of peanuts. If left to themselves (those that haven't forgotten how) they feed largely on plant material and seeds. There is a definite reason for this voracious engorging of food during the summer, which is enjoyed by the marmots and richardson ground squirrels as well. These animals are exemplary of the "true" hibernators of the animal kingdom. They go into burrows below frost line for a long winter period, curling up into tight little balls, and drop off into a death-like, torpid sleep from which they are aroused with some difficulty. Their temperature may drop from around ninety degrees F. to only forty; their heartbeat may reduce from approximately two hundred beats per minute to four or five; their oxygen consumption is less than ten per cent of the amount used in active condition. They utilize part of their stored-up summer fat for the little energy needed to keep alive. When the warm days of spring arrive, they dig their way out of the ground and search again for food and the customary "handouts."

LEAST CHIPMUNK (Eutamias minimus operarius)

This little chipmunk is distinguished from the only other similar
rodent in the Park, the golden-mantled ground squirrel, by its small
size and nervous habit, stripes down the middle, as well as the sides
of the back, and by narrow strips of black and white on its face. The
tail is relatively long and bushy. Total length 8 inches. Found in
Colorado east of the Continental Divide, from foothills to above
timberline. Another least chipmunk (Eutamias minimus consobrinus)
probably overlaps the range of operarius near the Continental Divide,
and occupies the west half of the Park.

This quick nervous chipmunk is very common in all zones over 5,000 feet and is found scurrying among the rocks and along the forest floor, as well as running on tree trunks and branches. Like the ground squirrel, it has well-developed cheek pouches in which it can store an amazing amount of food. While it has a form of hibernation, it does not go into the deep torpor of the hibernating ground squirrel. It has been seen in the dead of winter running over the snows.

WESTERN CHIPMUNK (Eutamias quadrivittatus quadrivittatus)

A close relative of the least chipmunk of northwestern Colorado, which
is rarely seen within the Park boundaries, and then not above 9,000
feet; is slightly larger and has a proportionately longer tail than
the least chipmunk. Total length 8½-9½ inches.

NORTHERN POCKET GOPHER (Thomomys talpoides fossor)

A reddish-brown rodent with long, heavy, front digging claws. When
compared to ground squirrels the pocket gopher has a heavier, chunky
body and a shorter, thick tail. Has large, furlined cheek pouches.
Total length 8½ inches. This group of pocket gophers is widely
distributed from the great plains to the Pacific coast. Another
subspecies (Thomomys talpoides clusius) occurs rarely in the Park
although it is common in the plains and foothills. It resembles fossor
except that its fur is brownish-gray.

Spending most of its life under the ground this well equipped excavator digs an amazing labyrinth of tunnels in western soils. It can make well over 200 feet of tunnel in a single night, usually digging down 5 or 6 feet below the surface. The prominent locator signs of the gopher are earthen mounds about 12 inches in diameter and 4 inches above ground level. In the center of the mound is an entrance to his tunnel system. In winter this tough, little rodent moves around above ground under the snow. His digging continues at this time and the excavated earth is pushed out of the ground and into his snow tunnels. When the snow melts the next spring the long, irregular earth cylinders lying on the ground are exposed. This shy, secretive gopher is difficult to see even at his earthen look-out mound, because he rarely exposes himself when intruders are nearby. They are found occasionally in meadows up to timberline.

BUSHY-TAILED PACK RAT (Neotoma cinerea orolestes)

A large rat, reddish-gray with heavy black linings on the back; color
variations are considerable and may even grade into yellowish-gray.
Bushy, gray tail; large ears and beady eyes. Total length up to 17
inches. Formerly known as a wood rat.

This notorious mountain rat is widely distributed over the state from 4,600 feet up to the tops of the highest peaks. Often frequenting buildings and cabins in the mountains, the pack rat has also been labeled a trade rat. These names are derived from the animal's habit of carrying off any loose article it may find and sometimes leaving other objects in the place of those taken. While these rats do possess a distinct musky odor, they, like many of the other rodents, have unduly suffered in character by comparison with the universally disliked house rat. A rodent ordinarily found in rocky places, they are much cleaner in appearance and habits than their dirty, disease-laden relatives of the city. They build a large, globular nest of soft, shredded materials and are most active in the first few hours of the night, and again before dawn. Usually they are very furtive.

DEER MOUSE (Peromyscus maniculatus rufinus)

A round-eared mouse with tawny brown upper parts, and white feet and
underparts. Total length up to 6 inches.

Like the pack rats, these are common in the mountain regions, particularly around dwellings, although they are much more easily seen than the rats. Unlike the disagreeable house mice, they keep themselves exceptionally clean. As they do not hibernate, they are commonly seen throughout the winter months from valley to timberline. They are also known as the white-footed deer mice of the mountains.

CLIFF MOUSE (Peromyscus nasutus nasutus)

A very large-eared mouse with dark, black and gray back. Total length
up to 6 inches.

Sometimes called the long-nosed deer mouse, they are found occasionally in the Park, chiefly east of the Continental Divide. They prefer living in rocky areas, and are not as abundant as the true deer mouse (maniculatus).

JUMPING MOUSE (Zapus princeps princeps)

A large mouse with a dark back and greatly elongated hindlegs. Very
long tail. Total length 9 inches.

This "kangaroo-like" mouse is found more commonly in the vegetation along the cold, rushing mountain streams. Although weighing less than an ounce, they make average hops or leaps from five to six feet at a bound.

THE VOLES

These little mammals are all members of a family of rodents which are set apart by their stocky, clumsy build, small ears, blunt heads, and certain skeletal differences. They have a decided preference for the colder regions of the globe and are generally a populous group in the world of rodents, the most numerous and widely distributed of which are the meadow voles. They are merely listed here to show the variety that have been found in the Park and to give an indication of their relative abundance. The final identification of some of them is possible only on close examination and measurement. For identifying characters, consult the reference mentioned in the preface.

LONG-TAILED VOLE (Microtus longicaudaus mordax)

Common in all types of habitat.

DWARF VOLE (Microtus montanus fusus)

Common on grassy hillsides and drier meadows.

MEADOW VOLE (Microtus pennsylvanicus modestus)

Common in damp meadows.

RED-BACKED VOLE (Clethrionomys gapperi galei)

Occasional in damp woods.

NORTHERN VOLE (Phenacomys intermedius intermedius)

Rarely found in the subalpine zone.

THE HARES, RABBITS, AND PIKAS

These animals were formerly included in the order of rodents. However, instead of having the rodents' four front (incisor) teeth, (two above and two below), these have six. The extra pair are tiny and not very useful, being placed directly behind the upper front teeth. This anatomical difference is the scientific basis for separating the rodents and the rabbits.

PIKA (Ochotona princeps saxatilis)

A small, tailless member of the rabbit family, guinea-pig like in
form, with short, round ears and a varying colored coat, ranging from
buffy to brown. Total length 7 inches. Height at shoulder 3 inches.

The little, abrupt-moving pika is found abundantly among the rock slides and slopes from timberline to the highest alpine peaks. Its high, quick bleat or shrill squeak, ventriloquistic in character, may be heard at any of the large rock piles in the alpine zone. Having a pronounced preference for cooler climate, it is but rarely found in the lower-valley montane zone. Wonderfully camouflaged to blend in with the rocks where it lives, it always crouches on all fours, never "sitting up" as do the similar sized ground squirrels. The pika spends his summer industriously gathering grasses and flowers and "curing" them on the sun-baked rocks to form his winter supply of food or "haypile." He does not hibernate, but lives actively throughout the winter, snug and secure from winter storms among the rock piles.

COTTONTAIL RABBIT (Sylvilagus nuttallii pinetis)

Small rabbit with feet and ears shorter than a jack rabbit or snowshoe
hare. Fur remains dark grayish brown in winter. Short fluffy tail
prominent while running. The snowshoe hare in its summer coat
resembles the cottontail. However, the hare has larger hind feet and
runs with great bounding leaps, in contrast to the short, rapid hops
of the cottontail. Total length 16 inches. Ear length slightly over 2
inches.

The common little cottontail frequents the woods and valleys of the montane zone. The prolific mating habits are necessary to maintain their numbers, since they are heavily preyed on by many carnivorous animals. A single female may produce as many as 25 young during a year, in four or five matings. Cottontails, like the hares and jackrabbits, are subject to periodic diseases which may cause their virtual disappearance from a region. However, those rabbits surviving the epidemics will suddenly start to increase, and in a few years the area will again contain hundreds. These sudden changes in populations may occur regularly every five or ten years.

WHITE-TAILED JACK RABBIT (Lepus townsendii townsendii)

A large hare with very long ears (about 5 inches) and long, powerful
hind limbs. Coat is a varying shade of gray turning paler in winter.
In the very high altitudes, the coat will turn an almost white shade.
in which coloration it resembles the snowshoe hare. Total length 24
inches. Found west of the Continental Divide. A subspecies (Lepus
townsendii campanius) is found east of the Divide. Description same as
above.

SNOWSHOE HARE (Lepus americanus bairdii)

Very much like the white-tailed jack rabbit, except the ears are not
over 3 inches in length, and the coloration is more buffy-gray in
summer. Changes to a thick, pure white coat in winter with only the
tips of the ears remaining black. Total length 17 inches.

The snowshoe rabbit has gained its name from the hair covering the long toes and large feet. These "snowshoes" enable the animals to travel over the lightest snow crusts without sinking out of sight. Its wonderful protective coloration both in summer and winter, combined with a bounding jump which can carry it up to thirty miles an hour, provide this hare with means of evading some of its numerous predators. It is fairly common in the subalpine forests and tundra country both in summer and winter. The snowshoe hare has also been called the varying hare because of the molting or changing of coats with each winter and summer season.

THE SHREWS (INSECTIVORES)

Shrews and moles both belong to the order of insectivores, so called because their diet consists principally of insects. No moles have been reported for the Park as yet. The nervous little shrew, smallest of all North American mammals, is distinctly mouse-like at first glance. Closer inspection, however, will reveal a very small, darting animal with long, pointed, quivering nose, tiny or hidden eyes and ears, a slender body, and a gray, velvet-like fur that brushes easily either way. Even the smallest shrews have razor-like teeth and vicious tempers, which give members of the mouse world great fear of these terrible little assassins. They will not hesitate to leap on fat mice twice their size and kill them with their tiny jaws. They live on the ground and are active during both day and night hours. Being difficult to observe, they are usually studied in the field by trapping techniques. Meadows, damp places, and rotted logs are favorite habitats. The kinds of shrews found in the Park are indicated below with their relative abundance. Complete identification may be made by reference to larger texts.

MASKED SHREW (Sorex cinereus cinereus)

Common in all life zones of the Park.

DUSKY SHREW (Sorex obscurus obscurus)

Common up to timberline in moist areas.

DWARF SHREW (Sorex nanus)

Probably occasional in montane zone.

WATER SHREW (Sorex palustris navigator)

Probably occasional in and about streams of montane and subalpine
zones.

THE FLYING MAMMALS (BATS)

The bats are set apart from all other mammals because they have the power of flight. Otherwise, they possess the mammal characteristics of having a fur covering and suckling their young. Bats are rarely seen during the daylight hours, as they spend this time hanging upside down by claw-like feet in and about buildings and in branches of trees. They are mostly brownish or grayish with large "leathery" wings. Body length is from three to five inches; wing expanse six to twelve inches. Weight ¼ to 2 ounces. They swoop through the darkness with erratic, twisting movements and feed on flying insects. Their mouth contains a number of needle-sharp teeth. Bats have been greatly publicized because of their ability to fly through total darkness at relatively high speeds, avoiding all obstacles. In flight, the bats utter crys too high-pitched to be audible to the human ear. The vibration of these cries are "bounced back" from objects as the bats approach, and are picked up by extremely sensitive ears in time to permit dodging the obstacle. In addition to these "silent" echo calls, they are capable of uttering staccato squeaks while in flight which are audible to the human ear. They will not strike or "hit" people in their vicinity. In winter they may go into a hibernation period in caves or migrate, like birds, to warmer climates. Very little is known about the species of bats existing in this mountain region, therefore the following list gives only an indication of the variety of bats believed to be in the Park.

BIG BROWN BAT (Eptesicus fuscus fuscus)

HOARY BAT (Lasiurus cinereus)

SILVER-HAIRED BAT (Lasionycteris noctivagans)

LUMP-NOSED BAT (Corynorhinus rafinesquii pallescens)

LARGE-EARED BROWN BAT (Myotis evotis chrysonotus)

TRACKS

Transcriber's Notes

--Silently corrected a few typos.

--Retained publication information from the printed edition: this eBook
is public-domain in the country of publication.

--Corrected some page numbers in the list of Illustrations, and added
entries for tracks from the book cover.

--In the text versions only, text in italics is delimited by
_underscores_.