Fauna

One of the earliest accounts which mentions Austin Bluffs is Francis Metcalfe Bass Wolcott’s HERITAGE OF YEARS KALEIDOSCOPIC MEMORIES, 1851-1889. Mrs. Wolcott accompanied her husband, Lyman Bass to Colorado Springs seeking the cure for his tuberculosis. Mr. Bass became attorney to General Palmer before he eventually succumbed in 1889 to his tuberculosis. Mrs. Bass explored the local area quite extensively. Here she mentions eagles, coyotes, wolves, and sheep as occupants of the Austin Bluffs.

On the highest rock of Austin’s Bluff, a pair of eagles built their nest and raised their young. To see them soaring toward the sun was to understand why the eagle was chosen as the symbol of freedom for the United States. p. 88Even a coyote, slinking half-hidden in sagebrush, was an event. On a ride to Austin’s Bluff I was ahead of my companions, letting my horse follow his bent. Arriving in a sun-warmed pocket of yellow sandstone, five large gray wolves faced me. Their scent made my horse balk, but neither horse, rider nor wolves were greatly disturbed. Fat flocks of sheep, not far distant, had lined their ribs, and they quietly vanished. p. 89

Birds seen on a campus birdwalk, August 2005 included:
Northern Oriole	American Robin	Cedar Wax Wing
Red tail hawk	Scrub jay	Violet-green Swallow
Mourning Dove	House Wren	Song Sparrow
American Goldfinch	Meadow Lark	Magpie
House Finch	Blue Jay	Pigeon
Common Grackle	Western Kingbird	Blue-grey gnatcatcher
Bush Tit	Common Crow

Mammals sighted: deer, a fox, and coyote scat.