Bucks grow antlers that are covered in velvet each summer, as elk do too. The velvet hides a network of blood vessels that bring nutrients to the antlers. The back country supports a number of rodent species, most of which are only rarely seen. Philmont and Wagon Mound. Pikas live above timber line and store food for the long winter.
Weasels live in foothills and mountains.
The long-tailed weasel, with brown feet, is commonly seen. The less-common ermine, with white feet, is the smallest carnivore at the ranch. In winter the fur of the ermine turns white, retaining the black tip of the tail. Both species are voracious predators, able to eat half their body weight in a 24-hour period. Mountain cottontails are frequently seen in the underbrush from dusk until late morning.