Gateway to the Rockies
the large expanses of native wildland habitats make Wyoming unique and the home to over 600 species of native wildlife.
Here at the Gateway to the Rockies you will see animals of the conifer forest. The golden-crowned kinglet is found nesting and feeding atop the forest canopy in the older, taller evergreen trees. Other birds nest and feed here, some in shrubs and some on the ground. Woodpeckers hammer on trees building nest cavities. Other species of birds and mammals use there holes for nesting and shelter. Birds consume insects which can harm trees.
Dead trees, both standing and fallen, provide homes for wildlife, too. A last contribution before nutrients are returned to the soil.
Elk and mule deer feed at dusk and again at dawn in forest openings. The nearby forest is used as cover.
Beyond this gateway we pass into the rich land and plant diversity offered by the Rocky Mountains and its many basins. The Rocky mountains are beautiful, majestic and powerful, but they are also a crucial part of this fragile formula. These Rock Mountain habitats are the reason for much of
Wyoming's wildlife.Erected by Wyoming's Wildlife - Worth the Watching.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Natural Features.
Location. 41° 14.21′ N, 105° 26.149′ W. Marker is in Laramie, Wyoming, in Albany County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Interstate 80 and Wyoming Highway 210. Marker is at Lincoln Monument Rest Stop. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Laramie WY 82070, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Purple Heart Trail (here, next to this marker); Abraham Lincoln (here, next to this marker); Henry Bourne Joy and the Lincoln Highway (here, next to this marker); Telephone Canyon (here, next to this marker); Ranching from the High Point (here, next to this marker); Henry B. Joy Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Sherman Cemetery (approx. 7.2 miles away); Ames Monument (approx. 7.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Laramie.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 12, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 14, 2011, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 950 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 14, 2011, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.