If they are present, Wilson's phalarope, American avocet, willet, sandpipers, Greater yellowlegs, and dowitchers will be easy to observe. Other less common species include great blue heron, black-crowned night heron, American bittern, and eared and pied-billed grebe. The upland hills harbor sage grouse year around with a winter population of more than 200 birds. Golden eagles, several species of hawks, and an occasional prairie falcon circle the skies above in search of food. Their prey includes Richardson's ground squirrel, white-tailed prairie dog, and white-tailed jackrabbit. Badger, muskrat, beaver, coyote, and pronghorn are commonly observed. It is also possible to see a raccoon, red fox, mink, long-tailed weasel, or porcupine. As many as 400 mule deer have wintered here and up to 200 elk are frequently seen during the winter months. Moose have recently been reintroduced into North Park and may occasionally be observed in the willow thickets along the Illinois River bottoms. There are no venomous snakes anywhere in this forest. Wilderness areas There are six officially designated wilderness areas lying within Arapaho National Forest that are part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Four of them are partially in neighboring National Forests, and one of these also onto National Park Service land (as indicated). Byers Peak Wilderness, 13.93 square miles Indian Peaks Wilderness, 119.9 square miles (partly in Roosevelt NF; also partly in Rocky Mountain National Park) James Peak Wilderness, 26.59 square miles (mostly in Roosevelt NF) Mount Evans Wilderness, 116.3 square miles (partly in Pike NF) Never Summer Wilderness, 32.95 square miles (partly in Routt NF) Vasquez Peak Wilderness, 19.22 square miles In popular culture Most of the movie Red Dawn is set in Arapaho National Forest. In the Anita Blake book series by Laurell K Hamilton's Affliction Arapaho National Forest plays a significant role. The Grizzly West region of the video game Red Dead Redemption 2 is heavily based on the Arapaho National Forest. References External links Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland (United States Forest Service) ColoradoGuide.com National Forests of Colorado National Forests of the Rocky Mountains Protected areas of Clear Creek County, Colorado Protected areas of Gilpin County, Colorado Protected areas of Grand County, Colorado Protected areas of Jefferson County, Colorado Protected areas of Park County, Colorado Protected areas of Routt County, Colorado Protected areas of Summit County, Colorado Protected areas established in 1908 1908 establishments in Colorado