🍁 Autumn Wildlife Wonders: Boulder’s Quiet Companions
🍂 Autumn Animals in Boulder: A Quiet Season of Life
View from Marshall Valley Trail by Dylan Williams
Hey Boulder! 🌞
Hi, Ben here. As the air turns crisp and the crowds thin on the trails, Boulder feels like it exhales a little. This time of year, I love slowing down to notice the small signs of life — the rustle of deer in the brush, the chatter of prairie dogs, the hawk tracing lazy circles overhead. Fall might seem like an ending, but out here, it’s a quiet reminder that nature is always awake.
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— The What’s Happenin’ Boulder Team 😉
Which animal’s haunting call can often be heard echoing through Boulder’s foothills on cool autumn nights?
Click an option to vote
🍂 Autumn Animals in Boulder: Who’s Out Before the Snow
Photo by Kevin Hehl
Fall is one of my favorite times to slow down and notice the wildlife that shares this place with us.
You might spot mule deer grazing along the edge of the trail at dawn, or a curious red fox darting between the brush near Wonderland Lake. Overhead, hawks circle patiently in the soft afternoon light, while chickadees and nuthatches flit through the last golden cottonwoods. If you’re lucky, you might even hear the distant bugle of an elk from the meadows west of town or catch a glimpse of a great horned owl settling into its roost before sunset.
It’s a season of quiet preparation — bears are filling up before hibernation, squirrels stash their treasures beneath fallen leaves, and the prairie dogs still chatter in the sun, unbothered by the chill in the air. So if you find yourself on a walk this weekend, take a pause and look around. Autumn in Boulder isn’t just about color — it’s about presence.
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Until Next Time
A North American red fox in winter by Lvaughn7
As autumn winds down and the first hints of winter creep in, take a quiet walk and listen — Boulder’s wild neighbors are still busy writing the final notes of the season. Whether it’s the flash of a fox’s tail or the distant call of an owl, these moments remind us how lucky we are to live beside so much life.
Answer: 🦉 B) Great horned owl — Their deep, rhythmic hoots carry far through the crisp night air, marking territory and calling to their mates as Boulder settles into fall.
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— Ben
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