The Colorado Pikeminnow, once abundant in the main stem of the Colorado River and its tributaries, is now federally endangered and listed as threatened in Colorado. Today, two wild populations remain in the Upper Colorado River Basin.
Colorado Pikeminnow
Gray wolves are listed as endangered in Colorado and many other states. Reintroduction efforts began in 2019, aiming to downgrade their status to "threatened" once 50 wolves are recorded for four consecutive years.
Gray Wolf
The Plains Sharp-Tailed Grouse has seen significant population declines in Colorado due to habitat loss and spring heat waves. These birds forage on the ground in summer and in trees and shrubs during winter.
Plains Sharp-Tailed Grouse
Kit foxes are endangered in Colorado, with habitat loss due to agriculture and development being major threats. Predation, road-kills, trapping, shooting, and poisoning also contribute to their decline. They have been protected in the state since 1994.
Kit Fox
Boreal toads, once common in montane habitats in the Southern Rocky Mountains, are now endangered in Colorado due to dramatic population declines caused by chytrid fungus and habitat loss. A recovery plan was implemented in 1994.
Boreal Toad
The Humpback Chub, unique fish once thriving in Colorado, is now federally endangered and threatened at the state level. Their population has fallen drastically due to invasive species and dam creation, with current habitats in deep canyon portions of the Colorado River system.
Humpback Chub
Black-footed ferrets, thought to be extinct twice, are currently undergoing reintroduction efforts in Colorado. Despite these efforts, they remain federally and state-endangered, with about 600 individuals split between captive breeding and wild relocation sites.
Black-Footed Ferret
Whooping cranes, both state and federally endangered, have not been seen in Colorado since 2010. The current population includes around 100 breeding birds and 260 individuals overall, with a lifespan of 22 to 24 years in the wild.
Whooping Crane