NatureMapping Habitat - Talus slopes

Definition of "Unvegetated" - General Code 100: Less than 10% vegetation cover. Refers mostly to large areas of bare rock, saline flats, and permanent snow and ice fields.

Unvegetated: Talus slopes (110)

Descriptive Habitat Code: Talus slopes are cliff habitats having less than 10% vegetation cover (1) and include large areas of bare rock (10).

Talus, or scree, is the accumulation of broken rock that lies on a steep mountainside or at the base of a cliff.

Photo: KMD

American Pika
Ochotona princeps
Code: OCPR
Photo: Natures Pics

Distribution and Habitat:
Live in rock piles and talus slopes in the mountains of western North America.

Diet:
They feed on alpine grasses, sedges, thistles, fireweed, cushion plants and lichens.

Interesting fact:
Pikas collect and store food for the winter.

American Pika Fact Sheet »

Gapper's red-backed vole
Clethrionomys gapperi
Code: CLGA
Photo: WDFW

Distribution and Habitat:
This species is found from sea level to the timberline on both sides of Washington State.

Diet:
They are hervivores and generally eat the green portions of a variety of plants.

Interesting fact:
Voles do not hibernate. They make tunnels under the snow during the winter.

Red-backed Vole Fact Sheet »

Gopher snake
Pitouphis melanoleucas catenifer
Code: PIME
Photo: Chris Brown

Distribution and Habitat:
It is found in mountainous and rocky areas up to an altitude of at least 8000 feet.

Diet:
It feeds primarily on rodents and other small mammals. Only warm- blooded, living prey are eaten.

Interesting fact:
The gopher snake is not poisonous although its threatening posture sometimes gives the impression that it is.

Gopher Snake Fact Sheet »

Great horned owl
Bubo virginianus
Code: BUVI
Photo: TFK

Distribution and Habitat:
It is found across the state in cliff areas.

Diet:
If feeds largely on small mammals including squirrels, rabbits, gophers, prairie dogs, chipmunks, mice, rats and other small rodents, as well as domesticated poultry, other small birds, grasshoppers, beetles, crayfish and fish.

Interesting fact:
The great horned owl is large (the length of an adult's arm from the hand to the elbow). Screech owls have "horns" and are misidentified as baby great horned owls. Baby owls are the size of their parents when they leave the nest.

Great Horned Owl Fact Sheet >

Night snake
Hypsiglena torquata
Code: HYTO
Photo: TM

Distribution and Habitat:
It is found in a variety of habitats including deserts, woodlands, mountain meadows, grasslands, chaparral, sagebrush flats, and also in both rocky and sandy areas.

Diet:
It feeds upon salamanders, frogs, lizards and other small snakes.

Interesting fact:
The night snake breeds between April and August, during which time 2-9 eggs are laid. Although they are not considered poisonous, people may suffer from a reaction to the bite.

Night Snake Fact Sheet »

Rock dove
Columba livia
Code: COLI
Photo: TFK

Distribution and Habitat:
It is found in most medium-sized and large cities of the United States and in the Columbia Basin.

Diet:
It feeds primarily on seeds, and is especially common in areas where grain is cultivated, processed, transported or stored.

Interesting fact:
The rock dove is sometimes a problem in cities where they nest in the cornices of public buildings. They can breed any time of the year and provide milk in their crop (throat sac) for the nestlings to drink.

Rock Dove Fact Sheet »

Western fence lizard
Sceloporus occidentalis
Code: SCOC
Photo: WDFW

Distribution and Habitat:
It is found in a variety of habitats including grasslands, woodlands, coniferous forests, deserts, farmland, and chaparral.

Diet:
If feeds primarily on spiders and insects.

Interesting fact:
This lizard is associated with vertical components. That is, they are found on fences, cliffs, large rocks, and trees.

Yellow-bellied marmot
Marmota flaviventris
Code: MAFL
Photo: Natures Pics

Distribution and Habitat:
It is found throughout parts of eastern Washington in semi-arid habitats.

Diet:
It is known to feed upon seeds and nuts.

Interesting fact:
Once marmots build their den, they do not venture far from it.

Yellow-bellied Marmot Fact Sheet »