Watching River Wildlife

The South Platte River and the riparian woodland beside it form a ribbon of life through prairie, farm, and ranch country, providing habitat for a great diversity of wildlife. The river, sandbars, and adjacent woodlands offer food, water, shelter, nesting and denning sites, and a migration pathway. Half of Colorado's wildlife species use riparian habitat even though it covers less than 2% of the state. Morning and evening are the best times to observe animal activity along the nearby trail, and wildlife can be watched responsibly by keeping a distance, moving slowly and quietly, watching and listening for signs of life such as tracks or bird songs, and leaving pets behind. A riparian area is the ecological community along a river or stream created by the water running through the surrounding environment. Wildlife found here includes bald eagles, common flickers, bats, great horned owls, turkey, Woodhouse's toads, killdeer, raccoons, bullsnakes, butterflies, great blue heron, and white-tailed deer.

Fort Morgan, Colorado · United States