Visitors to Estes Park this time of year receive a special treat. Throughout all of spring and early summer look for mountain goat kids and big horn sheep lambs clinging to rocky cliffs and elk cows grazing with their calves in the meadows. Near the creeks and rivers of the Estes Valley you might see black bear cubs, mountain lion kittens and coyote pups. Now is the time to visit and appreciate the beauty of new life in the wild.

Most female mountain lions give birth every two or three years between April and July, bearing an average of two to four kittens. The birth place may be a secluded spot beneath an uprooted tree or in a rocky depression. The kittens are born blind and completely dependent on their mothers. At six weeks old they will begin to accompany their mother out into the world.

There is also excellent viewing of wildlife youngsters near the Endovalley picnic area of Rocky Mountain National Park, where people commonly see elk calves and sometimes hiding in the tall grasses mule deer fawns. Female mule deer give birth to one or two fawns in late spring. The newborn fawns are golden brown with mottled spots that act as camouflage.

Black bear cubs are born in dens during winter dormancy and emerge with their mothers in spring. The cubs will grow to be about 500 pounds for males, 200 pounds for females. A black bear’s home range can extend anywhere from 10 to 250 square miles.

Sometimes in spring visitors have to be patient as a busy duck mom holds up traffic crossing with her chicks in tow. Make your reservations now to come up to the nursery. Spring babies are out and about all around the Estes Valley. Come on up and enjoy the view!

PLEASE NOTE THESE ARE WILD ANIMALS! Keep your distance and proceed with caution and respect while viewing any of these awesome but sometimes dangerous creatures.