Jim Aragon of the Colorado Division of Wildlife addressed nearly 50 attendees at the Salida Community Center Monday night, speaking about large mammals common to the Arkansas Valley, horns and antlers — also known as “headgear” — and conflicts that can arise between people and animals.
“We are very fortunate to live where we do in Colorado”, Aragon said, describing the diversity of habitat in the Arkansas Valley.
While “antlers” and “horns” are often used interchangeably, they are in fact quite different, Aragon demonstrated. Antlers are a pair of bony, branched structures which are generally grown only by the males of the species. They grow quickly, only to be discarded annually and regrown. In contrast, horns are comprised of a keratinized sheath which grows over a bony core. They stay with the animal throughout its life, and can be used to determine the age of an animal. Deer and elk have antlers; mountain goats, pronghorns and bighorn sheep have horns.
Aragon noted that there is a relatively large population of bighorn sheep in the Arkansas Valley, especially between Salida and Cañon City. The Colorado state animal, bighorn sheep were once common on the plains. As part of its management of local sheep populations, the Division of Wildlife treats the animals annually for lungworm and pasteurella, which can cause respiratory issues.
Aragon, who was raised in Salida, said that he was often asked why deer could commonly be found within the city limits now when that wasn’t the case several decades ago. He said that the imposition of a leash law in Salida ensures that fewer dogs are running wild — dogs which previously would have chased deer out of town.
Aragon also said:
- Increasingly, rural subdivision development is diminishing winter habitat for elk and affecting migrations.
- The Division of Wildlife may kill dogs that harass wildlife, or cite the owner.
- It is not uncommon to find lynx west of Salida near the Continental Divide.
- Chronic wasting disease (CWD) has not been found by DOW testing in the upper Arkansas Valley, but has been detected in deer closer to Pueblo and Fort Carson.
- Mountain goats were imported into the state and released in 1947. They can be found above treeline in the Collegiate Peaks.
- Despite claims to the contrary, pronghorns can jump fences.
The talk was the last of public lectures given this fall as part of GARNA’s “Sense of Place” project, which pairs public talks with complementary “guided adventures.”
Ann Graham, who introduced Aragon, said that previous lectures dealt with area geology and the history and future of local agriculture. Topics next spring will include gems and minerals, geothermal energy and weather.
Contact GARNA for more information.
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