Mesa Verde National Park occupies 52,000 acres of semi-arid canyon lands in Colorado. The park was dedicated to "preserve the works of man" but with 8,500 acres of designated wilderness, it also safeguards many species of plants and animals, some rare and endangered. Mesa Verde is home to 200 species of birds, 21 species of reptiles and amphibians and 74 species of mammals. Rare pairs of peregrine falcons and Mexican spotted owls that want to breed rely on the park to provide protected habitat.
Mesa Verde is home to breeding pairs of the rare peregrine falcon and the Mexican spotted owl. Visitors hiking along the canyon edge have spotted peregrine falcons and golden eagles in flight. Three species of hawks, the red-tailed hawk, Cooper's hawk and the sharp-shinned hawk also call Mesa Verde home. Wild turkeys are frequently seen near the park entrance and turkey vultures can be found from March through October. The park hosts several species of hummingbirds and woodpeckers and four species of owl, including the great horned owl. Birders have also sighted many species of wrens, thrushes, chickadees, swifts, crows, magpies and jays. Bird watchers can obtain a complete list and information on the best sighting locations from the park rangers.
The park is home to a wide range of mammals from the 17 species of bats that flit through the night sky to the 11 species of rats and mice on the canyon floor. Visitors often see chipmunks, prairie dogs and any of six species of quick moving weasels. Three species of rabbits, two species of gopher and five species of squirrels are also common sightings by park guests. Mule deer can be seen both day and night along the parks roads. Coyote, common gray fox and red fox roam widely throughout Mesa Verde and black bear are occasionally spotted near the campgrounds. Lucky visitors may view mountain lions and bobcats.
At home in the arid, rocky canyons of Mesa Verde are more than 16 species of reptiles. The prairie rattlesnake with its distinctive warning rattle is the only poisonous snake in the park. The New Mexico milk snake is a colorful addition with red, black and yellow stripes. The park also hosts five other snake species. Eight species of lizards inhabit the park including the brightly colored yellow-headed collared lizard and the toad-like mountain short-horned lizard. Amphibians such as the Rocky Mountain toad, red-spotted toad and boreal chorus frog also enjoy the protection of Mesa Verde National Park.
One delicate relationship in Mesa Verde is interesting to note. The caterpillar of the rare Black Swallowtail Butterfly feeds only on a rare plant within the park, the Mesa Verde wandering aletes. The existence of this butterfly depends on the park protecting this plant species. The park houses previously unknown insect species, the Mesa Verde tiger beetle and the Anasazi digger bee. More than a thousand other insect species live in Mesa Verde.
