The most common mammals that live along the Poudre River are squirrels, rabbits, skunks, mice, opossums, raccoons, porcupines, prairie dogs, voles, foxes, bats, coyotes and deer. You will also come across domestic farms animals such as cows, horses and maybe a llama or two.
Deer are more active at daybreak and at sunset. The male deer will have antlers, the more points on the antlers means the older the deer. The young spotted fawns are around in the Spring. Be sure to stay quiet around the deer, they are skittish and will bounce away if they know that you are around.
Raccoons and bats are nocturnal and skunks are active around dawn or dusk. The best time to see many of the mammals along the trail is early morning. You will most likely come across squirrels and rabbits, as they are busy all day. Prairie dog colonies exist along sections of the trail. They burrow under the ground and eat roots, grasses, weeds, and other available plant life. While some people view them as a nuisance, they are an important species to the prairie ecosystem.