When most people think about wildlife in Rocky Mountain National Park, they picture bugling elk, massive bull moose, or Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep standing on impossible cliffs. Those iconic animals deserve every bit of the attention they receive.
But sometimes the smallest creatures on the mountain can tell the biggest stories.
That was the focus of today’s adventure for the Higher Calling Wildlife team.
We headed into the park with cameras in hand, hoping to photograph American pikas and yellow-bellied marmots after learning about new research examining alpine ecosystem health and the possibility that pikas could serve as an important indicator species in understanding changes taking place in these fragile, high-elevation environments.
It’s another reminder that conservation isn’t just about protecting the biggest or most famous animals. Sometimes understanding the future of an ecosystem begins with paying attention to the creatures that many visitors simply walk past.
Our daughter, Faith, absolutely loved the pikas.
There is something captivating about these tiny mammals as they dart across talus slopes carrying mouthfuls of vegetation to store for the long Rocky Mountain winter.
They are quick, curious, and surprisingly vocal. Watching Faith’s excitement every time another pika appeared from between the rocks was a reminder that wildlife conservation often begins with a simple moment of wonder. She has seen them before but never this active.
Lisa and I found ourselves equally fascinated by the marmots.
I’ve always thought marmots are among the most underrated mammals in North America. They’re often dismissed as oversized ground squirrels, but spend a little time watching one and you’ll see an animal with tremendous personality.
We enjoyed photographing them as they stretched out on warm rocks, stood upright to survey their surroundings, and disappeared into their burrows with surprising speed. They seem perfectly at home in one of the harshest environments on the continent.
Of course, no visit to Rocky Mountain National Park feels complete without looking for bighorn sheep. We spent time glassing the mountainsides, hoping to spot a ram or ewe navigating the cliffs. This time the sheep won. We never found them.
That’s one of the great lessons wildlife teaches. Success isn’t guaranteed. Every outing doesn’t end with the photograph you hoped to bring home, and that’s part of what keeps the experience authentic.
The mountain still rewarded us.
We spotted a cow moose, and seeing such a massive animal moving quietly through its habitat was a highlight of the day. Moose have become one of our favorite species to encounter in Colorado, and every sighting feels special because they seem to appear exactly when they choose, not when you expect them.
After leaving the park, the day wasn’t over.
One of the goals of this Colorado expedition has been combining wildlife photography with conservation outreach. We returned to town and handed out wildlife conservation gift packages to families and children, sharing resources that encourage people to learn more about the incredible animals living in these mountains. Those conversations are every bit as important as the photographs because conservation ultimately depends on people caring enough to become involved.
As we continue exploring Colorado, one thing has become increasingly clear. The story of these mountains isn’t written by mountain goats, elk, or bighorn sheep alone. It’s written by pikas gathering hay for winter, marmots soaking up the afternoon sun, moose feeding in willow bottoms, and countless other species that together form one of North America’s most remarkable ecosystems.
Sometimes the best wildlife stories aren’t about finding the biggest animal on the mountain.
Sometimes they’re about discovering that the little creatures living among the rocks may hold important clues about the future of the entire alpine landscape.
That’s a story worth telling, and one we’re excited to continue following as this expedition unfolds.
Check out the wrap-ups from the first two days of our expedition below.
Chester Moore
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