Arapaho National Forest
Arapaho National Forest | |
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Fort Collins, CO | |
Coordinates | 39°35′19″N 105°38′34″W / 39.588611°N 105.642778°W |
Area | 723,744 acres (2,928.89 km2) |
Established | July 1, 1908 |
Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
Website | Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland |
Arapaho National Forest is a
The forest is located in the
Wildlife
The ponds also produce many insects and other
The first waterfowl arrive in the spring when the ice vanishes in April. The peak migration occurs in late May when 5,000 or more ducks may be present. Canada geese have been reestablished in North Park and begin nesting during April. Duck nesting usually starts in early June and peaks in late June. The forest produces about 9,000 ducklings and 150 to 200 goslings each year. The Fish and Wildlife Service expects that when refuge lands are fully acquired and developed, waterfowl production should increase significantly.
There have been 198 bird species recorded in the forest.[2] Primary upland nesting species include the mallard, pintail, gadwall, and American wigeon. A number of diving ducks, including the lesser scaup and redhead, nest on the larger ponds and adjacent wet meadows. Most species may be observed during the entire summer season. Fall migration reaches its height in late September or early October when up to 8,000 waterfowl may be present.
The wetlands also attract numerous marsh, shore, and water birds. Sora and Virginia rails are numerous but seldom seen. If they are present, Wilson's phalarope, American avocet, willet, sandpipers, Greater yellowlegs, and dowitchers will be easy to observe. Other less common species include great blue heron, black-crowned night heron, American bittern, and eared and pied-billed grebe.
The upland hills harbor
Wilderness areas
There are six officially designated
- Byers Peak Wilderness, 13.93 square miles
- Indian Peaks Wilderness, 119.9 square miles (partly in Roosevelt NF; also partly in Rocky Mountain National Park)
- James Peak Wilderness, 26.59 square miles (mostly in Roosevelt NF)
- Mount Evans Wilderness, 116.3 square miles (partly in Pike NF)
- Routt NF)
- Vasquez Peak Wilderness, 19.22 square miles
In popular culture
Most of the movie Red Dawn is set in Arapaho National Forest.
In the Anita Blake book series by Laurell K Hamilton's Affliction Arapaho National Forest plays a significant role.
The Grizzly West region of the video game Red Dead Redemption 2 is heavily based on the Arapaho National Forest.
References
- ^ Table 6 - NFS Acreage by State, Congressional District and County - United States Forest Service - September 30, 2007
- ^ "Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge". USGS. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
External links
- Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland (United States Forest Service)
- ColoradoGuide.com Archived 12 March 2005 at the Wayback Machine