| The twin forks of Beaver Creek Wilderness Study Area rush out of Colorado peaks to converge in one of the richest wildlife habitats in the state, the Beaver Creek Wilderness Study Area. Mountain lions roam the heights in one of the greatest concentrations in Colorado. The cats share the land with bighorn sheep, mule deer, elk, black bear, beaver and bobcat. Overhead peregrine falcons, golden eagles, rough-legged hawks, and red-tailed hawks soar through the skies. Down below, wild turkeys and blue grouse scratch in the brush.This marvelous wildlife habitat makes up the Beaver Creek Wilderness Study Area. Administered by the BLM, the WSA comprises 27,020 acres just west of Colorado Springs. With elevations ranging from 6,000 to 10,000 feet, the plant ecology rivals the wildlife. In the south, rolling hills hold a semi-arid pinon-juniper ecosystem. Cactus and yucca thrive here. The land rises moving north. On the slopes of the rugged peaks, engelmann spruce, limber pine, and douglas fir take over. And in the subalpine heights, ancient bristlecone pines have endured for centuries. |
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