See Which Animals Are on the Move in Western Colorado

Weather on Colorado’s Western Slope has been fairly mild since February. The snowpack on the plateau and the Grand Mesa wasn’t much to begin with, but as it melts, wildlife will start to move.

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The spring months offer a chance to see of of Colorado's popular wildlife on the move. Let's take a closer look at the wildlife you might see in action, and where.

Where are Colorado's Elk In April and May?

In Western Colorado, the elk herds spend the winter in the valleys near Collbran, in Glade Park, and along the North Fork of the Gunnison. As spring arrives, the snow melt usually means the beginning of their movement to higher elevations on the Grand Mesa and further North to the Flat Tops. Keep your distance if you are lucky enough to find some.

Colorado's Bald Eagles

Western Colorado is a great place to spot bald eagles. Keeping a sharp eye out along rivers like the Colorado, Yampa, Green, and Gunnison will mean a good chance to encounter America’s National bird. Bald eagles tend to make nests along the rivers during the winter months, but start to trend northward by the arrival of spring. They can be seen flying over I-70, and are also spotted at Highline Lake State Park.

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Colorado's Big Horn Sheep

Finding Big Horn Sheep is always a fun surprise, especially a large herd. Sometimes you can spot a few of them coming right up to I-70, or Highway 65 to feed off grass and sagebrush near the shoulder; other times, they are relaxing inside the Colorado National Monument.

In Western Colorado, they can be found almost anywhere between Glenwood Canyon and Fruita. While I have seen a large herd inside the Monument once, I have seen even more along the Grand Mesa Byway (Highway 65) along Plateau Creek.