From black bears and mountain lions to bald eagles and bighorn sheep, Colorado has no shortage of magnificent, diverse wildlife. However, due to factors including habitat loss, some have been listed as endangered or threatened species.

Here’s a look at some endangered and threatened species found in Colorado:

1. Whooping Crane

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As the tallest bird in North America, whooping cranes are 50 to 56 inches in height and have a wingspan of 87 to 90 inches, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW). These birds are white overall with red facial skin, and live in mudflats around reservoirs and in agricultural areas.

The whooping crane is federally and state endangered. CPW states that there are 260 individuals, 150 in the wild and 110 in captivity. According to the United States Geological Survey, the main reasons why whooping cranes are endangered are habitat loss and past “rampant, unregulated hunting for their meat and feathers.” It’s also worth noting that the birds are monogamous, forming life-long bonds, typically laying two eggs two days apart each year. 

2. Lynx

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These medium-sized wild cats are federally threatened and state endangered. According to CPW, lynx actually disappeared from Colorado in the early 1970s. However, in the 1990s, CPW started a seven year effort to reintroduce the animals into the San Juan Mountains. The reintroduction was successful. CPW reports that 150-250 lynx now live in Colorado. 

3. Bonytail Fish

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These fish are endangered at both the state and federal level. According to CPW, the bonytail is the rarest of the endangered native fish of the Colorado River. The silver and gray fish has large fins and a streamlined body, making it an elegant swimmer. It is thought to have evolved around 3-5 million years ago.

According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, threats to bonytail include streamflow regulation, habitat modification, competition with and predation by non-native species. Hybridization is also a factor.

4. Preble’s Meadow Jumping Mouse

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This rare mammal is threatened at the federal and state level. It lives in dense riparian vegetation along the Front Range. Preble’s Meadow Jumping Mouse are about nine inches long, including their five and a half-inch tails. They’re difficult to observe, as they hibernate for eight months of the year. According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, decline in the extent and quality of the Preble’s habitat is the main factor threatening the species.

5. Boreal Toad

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Endangered at the state level, this boreal toad is Colorado’s only alpine species of toad. The toad is distributed throughout the Rocky Mountains at elevations between 8,500 and 11,500 feet, and can be found in the vicinity of mountain lakes, ponds, meadows, and wetlands in subalpine forest. The toads appear warty and usually have a light stripe down their backs.

According to CPW, the main cause of decline for these toads is the amphibian chytrid fungus. Colorado listed the species as endangered in 1993.