One of the species most severely affected by the deadly chytrid fungus is Colorado’s locally endangered boreal toad. In 2019, Denver Zoo became the first zoo to successfully breed this mountain-loving amphibian, ultimately releasing 682 tadpoles into the wild in Utah. In collaboration with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, we have now expanded our efforts to Colorado. In 2022, we released over 500 Zoo-born tadpoles into the Gunnison National Forest and launched a new community science project to monitor historic toad habitat across Colorado.

The Colorado Pika Project leverages the skills and passion of more than 500 community science volunteers to collect detailed data on the climate-sensitive American pika. As an indicator species, these diminutive rabbit relatives help us understand the effect of climate change. The Colorado Pika Project is a partnership between Denver Zoo and Rocky Mountain National Park, in collaboration with the White River National Forest, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado Parks & Wildlife, the University of Colorado Boulder and Colorado Mesa University.

Mount Blue Sky, the highest paved road in North America, receives more than 200,000 visitors per year. Visitors bring salt, which attracts bighorn sheep and mountain goats into parking lots and trailheads—creating human-wildlife conflict. Denver Zoo, with support from National Geographic, is stepping in to help resolve this conflict. We are taking soil cores to identify salt sources, engaging visitors to stop wildlife-feeding and other destructive behavior and deterring mountain goats and bighorn sheep by spreading mountain lion urine in parking lots.

By 1908, Denver Zoo’s 18 American bison were all that remained in Colorado. In our first official field conservation effort, the Zoo partnered with Yellowstone National Park officials and others to help propagate the endangered species. In 1914, the growing conservation herd was restored to Genesee Park and placed under the care of Denver Mountain Parks. Denver Zoo continues to work with DMP on bison conservation, prairie restoration and cultural reconciliation—and since 2021, we have worked with the City of Denver to Donate 47 bison to Native American communities as a form of reparations.