Wildlife Watching
What you’ll see and how to see it.
Table of Contents
- The Wildlife of South Park
- Mammals
- Birds
- Wildlife Watching Tips
- Wildlife with Kids
- Dangerous Wildlife
- Citizen Science Opportunities
- A Wildlife Watching Outing
The Wildlife of South Park
Eleven Mile State Park sits within the South Park grassland basin, bordered by forested mountain slopes. This habitat mosaic supports remarkable wildlife diversity—from iconic large mammals to specialized grassland birds.
June and July are excellent for wildlife watching: animals are active, young are visible, and long days provide extended viewing windows.
Mammals
Pronghorn Antelope
Likelihood: Common
Best viewing: Open grasslands, morning and evening
Fun fact: Second fastest land animal on Earth (after cheetah)
Pronghorn are the signature species of South Park. Look for herds grazing in open areas, especially at dawn and dusk. Their distinctive white rumps flash as warning signals. Males have black face patches and pronged horns; females have smaller horns or none.
Viewing tips:
- Scan grasslands with binoculars from vehicle
- They’re wary but curious—often stop to look back
- Best from roads where they’re accustomed to vehicles
Mule Deer
Likelihood: Very common
Best viewing: Forest edges, dawn and dusk
Fun fact: Ears rotate independently to detect predators
You’ll almost certainly see mule deer during your stay. They’re most active at dawn and dusk, often feeding in meadows or browsing forest edges. Look for does with fawns in June–July.
Identification: Large ears (thus “mule”), black-tipped tail, bounding gait when alarmed.
Elk
Likelihood: Occasional
Best viewing: Forest and meadow edges, early morning
Fun fact: Males can weigh 1,000+ lbs
Less common than deer but present in the area. More likely in forest edges and higher elevation areas adjacent to the park. Listen for their distinctive bugling (more common in fall).
Coyote
Likelihood: Common (often heard, sometimes seen)
Best viewing: Open areas, dawn and dusk
Fun fact: Highly adaptable—thrive from wilderness to cities
You’ll almost certainly hear coyotes howling at night. Seeing them requires luck—they’re wary and quick. Scan open grasslands at first light or last light for best chances.
Mountain Lion
Likelihood: Rare to see, present in area
Best viewing: Dusk/dawn (but sightings are lucky)
Safety: Never hike alone at dawn/dusk
Mountain lions are present but secretive. Most residents never see one despite years in lion country. If you do see one:
- Don’t run (triggers chase instinct)
- Make yourself look big
- Make noise, throw things
- Back away slowly
- Report sighting to park office
Black Bear
Likelihood: Occasional, especially at higher elevations
Best viewing: Forest areas, morning/evening
Safety: Proper food storage required
Bears wander through the area, particularly in drought years when natural food is scarce. Keep food secured, never approach, and report sightings.
Smaller Mammals
| Species | Where | When |
|---|---|---|
| Ground squirrel | Everywhere, especially campsites | Daytime |
| Yellow-bellied marmot | Rocky areas | Sunny afternoons |
| Beaver | Reservoir shoreline, look for signs | Dawn/dusk |
| Muskrat | Calm water, coves | Dawn/dusk |
| Cottontail rabbit | Camp edges, brushy areas | Dawn/dusk |
| Badger | Open grassland (burrows) | Rare sightings |
Birds
Eleven Mile is excellent birding territory. The reservoir attracts waterfowl, the grasslands host prairie species, and the surrounding forests support mountain birds.
Waterfowl
| Species | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Canada goose | Familiar honking goose | Common |
| Mallard | Green-headed duck | Common |
| Common merganser | Long, thin bill; fish-eater | Regularly seen |
| Ring-necked duck | Distinctive peaked head | Common |
| Lesser scaup | Diving duck | Migration peaks |
| American coot | Black with white bill | Common |
Raptors
| Species | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bald eagle | White head, dark body | Regularly seen, especially near water |
| Golden eagle | All dark, golden nape | Occasional |
| Red-tailed hawk | Rusty tail, soaring | Very common |
| Osprey | Fish hawk, hovers over water | Common near reservoir |
| American kestrel | Small falcon, colorful | Common |
| Turkey vulture | Wobbly flight, dark, red head | Common |
Grassland Birds
| Species | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Western meadowlark | Yellow breast, beautiful song | Very common |
| Horned lark | Small, horned appearance | Common |
| Mountain bluebird | Stunning blue | Common—a favorite |
| Vesper sparrow | Streaky, white outer tail | Common |
| Lark bunting | Colorado state bird | Breeding season |
Forest and General Birds
| Species | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Black-billed magpie | Black and white, long tail | Very common (and loud) |
| Common raven | Large, all black, croaking | Common |
| American crow | Smaller than raven, cawing | Common |
| Mountain chickadee | Black cap, white eyebrow | Common |
| Pygmy nuthatch | Tiny, headfirst on trees | Common |
| Red crossbill | Crossed bill, finch | Occasional |
| Great blue heron | Tall, elegant, stalking | Reservoir shoreline |
Wildlife Watching Tips
Equipment
Essential:
- Binoculars (8×42 or 10×42 recommended)
Nice to have:
- Spotting scope (for distant animals)
- Camera with telephoto lens
- Field guides (birds, mammals)
- Notebook and pencil
Timing
Best windows:
- First light to ~9 AM (animals active, feeding)
- 5 PM to dusk (second activity period)
- Overcast days often productive all day
Avoid:
- Midday heat (animals rest)
- High wind (animals hunker down)
Behavior
- Move slowly and quietly
- Stop frequently and scan
- Let animals approach you (patience pays)
- Don’t pursue or pressure animals
- Use vehicle as a blind (animals tolerate cars better than people on foot)
Locations
Best spots in park:
| Location | Target species |
|---|---|
| Open grasslands | Pronghorn, meadowlarks, raptors |
| Reservoir shoreline | Waterfowl, herons, osprey |
| Forest edges | Deer, elk, forest birds |
| Rocky outcrops | Marmots, ground squirrels |
| Campground area | Magpies, various birds |
Wildlife with Kids
Making It Engaging
Scavenger hunt: Create a checklist of animals to spot:
- Pronghorn
- Deer
- Ground squirrel
- Magpie
- Eagle or hawk
- Rabbit
- Fish jumping
- Colorful bird
Games:
- “Who sees it first?” (award points)
- Animal charades (act out animals you’ve seen)
- Nature journaling (draw what you see)
- Photography challenge (who gets best picture?)
Teaching Moments
- Why do pronghorn have white rumps? (Signaling)
- Why do deer freeze when they see us? (Evaluating threat)
- Why do birds sing? (Territory, mates)
- What do these animals eat? (Food web)
- Why are some animals only out at dawn/dusk? (Predator avoidance)
Safety Lessons
- We look, we don’t touch
- Wild animals are not pets
- If it runs away, we stop following
- Some animals can be dangerous (give space)
- Never feed wildlife (it hurts them)
Dangerous Wildlife
Mountain Lions
Present but rarely seen. Risk is low but real.
Prevention:
- Don’t hike alone at dawn/dusk
- Make noise on trails
- Keep children close
- Don’t run (ever)
If encountered:
- Face the lion
- Look big (raise arms, open jacket)
- Make noise
- Throw things
- Don’t run or play dead
- Fight back if attacked
Black Bears
Occasional visitors. Usually avoid humans.
Prevention:
- Store food properly
- Never approach
- Make noise when hiking
If encountered:
- Identify yourself (talk calmly)
- Back away slowly
- Don’t run
- Give it escape route
- If it bluffs, stand ground
- If it attacks, fight back (black bears rarely attack; if they do, fighting is recommended)
Rattlesnakes
Possible in rocky areas, especially warm days.
Prevention:
- Watch where you step and put hands
- Stay on trails
- Don’t reach into rock crevices
- Wear boots
If encountered:
- Back away slowly
- Give it space to retreat
- Most bites happen when people try to handle snakes
If bitten:
- Stay calm, immobilize limb
- Remove jewelry (swelling)
- Get to medical care immediately
- Don’t cut, suck, or tourniquet
Ticks
Present in grassland areas.
Prevention:
- Wear long pants tucked into socks
- Use DEET or permethrin
- Check everyone thoroughly each evening
- Shower after hiking
If found:
- Remove with fine tweezers, slow steady pull
- Clean area with alcohol
- Watch for rash, fever (seek medical care if either develops)
Citizen Science Opportunities
Turn wildlife watching into contribution:
eBird
Free app from Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Log bird sightings anywhere. Your data contributes to science.
How: Download app, create account, submit checklists of birds seen.
iNaturalist
Photograph any wildlife and submit for identification and data.
How: Photograph, upload, community helps identify, data goes to researchers.
Colorado Parks & Wildlife Reporting
Report significant sightings:
- Bear or lion in campground
- Injured wildlife
- Unusual species
Contact: Park office (719) 748-3401
A Wildlife Watching Outing
Morning Wildlife Drive
Time: 6–8 AM
Route: Drive slowly through park roads
Method:
- Windows down (hear birds)
- Stop frequently at overlooks
- Use vehicle as blind
- Scan grasslands with binoculars
Target species: Pronghorn, deer, meadowlarks, eagles
Shoreline Birding Walk
Time: Early morning or evening
Location: North Shore area or backcountry shoreline
Distance: 1–2 miles
Method:
- Walk slowly, stop often
- Scan water and sky
- Listen for calls
- Bring field guide
Target species: Waterfowl, herons, osprey, shorebirds
Evening Watch
Time: 1–2 hours before sunset
Location: Open grassland viewpoint
Method:
- Set up chairs or blanket
- Scan for movement
- Listen for coyotes beginning to call
- Watch raptors hunting
Target species: Pronghorn, deer, coyotes (heard), raptors
The Best Wildlife Moments: Can’t be scheduled. They happen when you’re patient, present, and not looking at your phone. The doe and fawn walking through camp at dawn. The eagle swooping over the reservoir. The coyote chorus as the stars emerge. Be ready.