Beavers frequent the streams at lower elevations. An occasional bear may be found in the pine forests, and mountain lions and bobcats prowl the rocky canyons. Deer, elk, and turkeys are the major game species. Deer occur at all elevations in summer, whereas elk prefer the higher forests. When winter snows come, both deer and elk move lower.
Turkeys stay in the pine forests all year.
These patterns of wildlife use are repeated in mountain areas throughout the Southwest. The Beaver Creek Experimental Watershed was established in 1956 to study the influence of various vegetative manipulations of pinyon-juniper and ponderosa pine on water yield and to evaluate changes in livestock forage, timber production, wildlife habitats, recreational values, and soil movement. Research Methods A paired watershed approach was used to evaluate treatment responses. Two watersheds with similar characteristics, both physical and biological, were selected and measurements of streamflow, sediment production, water quality, vegetation, and animal use were made on each watershed before any treatment was applied. After a period of time, one watershed was selected for application of a management treatment and measurements continued on both the treated and control watersheds.