Saturday 5th July - Rocky Mountain Arsenal WildLife Refuge

 Saturday 5th July

Another warm blue day in Broomfield.

Today the plan was to visit the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge on the outskirts of Commerce City with herds of Bison, Deer, Coyotes, Bald Eagles, Prairie Dogs, Burrowing Owls and Black-Footed Ferrets - and snakes of course!!

During World War II the Americans used the area to create chemical weapons like Sarin and Mustard Gas. At the end of the War the land couldn't be used for anything, so the contaminated ground was buried and the whole area converted into a refuge park.

Inside the building were some great static displays:


You could look him in the eye:


... and the inevitable Prairie Dogs:

Outside was a notice about Prairie Butterflies:


Everywhere you looked there was plenty of Sage Brush


We came across the Derby Lakes which was a home for Pelicans!


Near the end of the walk we found RattleSnake Hill which gave a great view, but no RattleSnakes!


Here in the distance is a native herd of Bison.



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