Threatened Colorado

What Threatens Colorado's Wildlife

Most of Colorado's rare species face more than one threat. Disease can wipe out a colony in a season, while habitat loss and dry streams work over decades. Pick a threat to see how it works, where it is in Colorado, and which species on this site it affects.

threat categories
4
distinct threats
11
species affected
30
face two or more threats
18

Which threats reach the most species

Species on this site affected by each threat. Select a row to read the full threat.

  • Disease
  • Habitat & Water
  • Invasive Species
  • Human Causes
  1. Habitat Loss & Fragmentation Habitat & Water 15 species
  2. Water Diversion & Dewatering Habitat & Water 12 species
  3. Nonnative Fish Invasive Species 7 species
  4. Power Lines & Wind Turbines Human Causes 5 species
  5. Roads & Vehicles Human Causes 3 species
  6. Avian Influenza (H5N1) Disease 2 species
  7. Sylvatic Plague Disease 2 species
  8. Whirling Disease Disease 2 species
  9. Chytrid Fungus Disease 1 species
  10. Lead Poisoning Human Causes 1 species
  11. White-Nose Syndrome Disease 1 species

Who faces what

Each dot is a threat that affects a species. The species at the top face several threats at once.

Three species face three threats: Bald Eagle, Greenback Cutthroat Trout and Whooping Crane.

Species on this site by threat. Each row lists which threats affect that species and how many.
DiseaseHabitat & WaterInvasive SpeciesHuman Causes
Species Avian flu Chytrid Plague Whirling disease White-nose Habitat loss Water diversion Nonnative fish Lead poisoning Power lines & wind Roads & vehicles Threats
Bald Eagle Yes No No No No No No No Yes Yes No 3
Greenback Cutthroat Trout No No No Yes No No Yes Yes No No No 3
Whooping Crane Yes No No No No No Yes No No Yes No 3
Black-tailed Prairie Dog No No Yes No No Yes No No No No No 2
Bonytail Chub No No No No No No Yes Yes No No No 2
Canada Lynx No No No No No Yes No No No No Yes 2
Colorado Pikeminnow No No No No No No Yes Yes No No No 2
Gunnison Sage-Grouse No No No No No Yes No No No Yes No 2
Humpback Chub No No No No No No Yes Yes No No No 2
Kit Fox No No No No No Yes No No No No Yes 2
Lesser Prairie-Chicken No No No No No Yes No No No Yes No 2
Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse No No No No No Yes Yes No No No No 2
Razorback Sucker No No No No No No Yes Yes No No No 2
Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout No No No Yes No No No Yes No No No 2
Rio Grande Sucker No No No No No No Yes Yes No No No 2
Southwestern Willow Flycatcher No No No No No Yes Yes No No No No 2
Swift Fox No No No No No Yes No No No No Yes 2
Tricolored Bat No No No No Yes No No No No Yes No 2
Black-footed Ferret No No Yes No No No No No No No No 1
Boreal Toad No Yes No No No No No No No No No 1
Burrowing Owl No No No No No Yes No No No No No 1
Ferruginous Hawk No No No No No Yes No No No No No 1
Least Tern (Interior) No No No No No No Yes No No No No 1
Monarch Butterfly No No No No No Yes No No No No No 1
North American Wolverine No No No No No Yes No No No No No 1
Pallid Sturgeon No No No No No No Yes No No No No 1
Piping Plover No No No No No No Yes No No No No 1
Plains Sharp-tailed Grouse No No No No No Yes No No No No No 1
Regal Fritillary No No No No No Yes No No No No No 1
Yellow-billed Cuckoo No No No No No Yes No No No No No 1

Browse by category

The bar on each card is scaled to the most widespread threat, so cards compare across categories.

Disease

Outbreaks that can wipe out a colony in a single season.

5 threats / 8 species

Habitat & Water

Slow changes to land and water that work over decades.

2 threats / 25 species

Invasive Species

Introduced species that outcompete and interbreed with natives.

1 threat / 7 species

Human Causes

Direct harm from the things people build and use.

3 threats / 8 species

Lead Poisoning

1 species

Scavengers swallow lead fragments from bullets and tackle. Nearly half of eagles tested show repeated exposure.

KEY FIGURE

47% of bald eagles tested nationwide show repeated lead exposure

Read the threat →