x
Breaking News
More () »

Listen to the sounds of Rocky Mountain National Park without leaving your home

In celebration of World Sound Day, RMNP released its Rocky Mountain National Park Sound Library which includes audio files of more than 200 naturals sounds that occur in the park.
RMNP

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK — Life can move at such a quick pace that we can forget to stop and listen to the sounds around us.

Wednesday, Rocky Mountain National Park made it a little easier.

From the calm sounds of rushing water to elk bugles, birds chirping and coyotes calling, you can listen to it all from the comfort of your home or office.

All of those sounds and many, many more are part of the Rocky Mountain National Park Sound Library.

As part of World Listening Day on July 18, the park released the Rocky Mountain National Park Sound Library.

It contains more than 210 recordings of more than 60 bird species, natural soundscapes, and wildlife vocalizations including elk, coyotes, western chorus frogs and even a pine squirrel.

In addition to animals found in the park, you can also listen to streams like the one that flows near the lowest point of the Black Canyon Trail, thunderstorms and even wind recorded at Gem Lake.

All the sounds were collected in the park by Dr. Jacob Job, a researcher with Colorado State University and the NPS Natural Sounds & Night Skies Division.

The Sound Library is part of the ongoing commitment of the National Park Service to document and preserve the natural sounds of the environment.

It also provides a way for all visitors to experience the sounds of the park and creates a historical record of the soundscapes so that changes can be monitored over time.

Click here to explore the entire Rocky Mountain National Park Sound Library

Natural sounds are part of a web of resources vital to park ecosystems. Sounds compose immersive experiences important for wildlife, wilderness and visitors. Protecting the unique sound environment of parks is one of the many ways the National Park Service works to sustain parks for future generations.

Wildlife depend on hearing natural sounds in the environment for a range of activities including communication, establishing territories, finding habitat, courting and mating, raising families, finding food and avoiding predators and protecting the young. Picture elk bugling and coyote listening to mice under snow!

Natural sounds have health benefits, too. Studies confirm that if we are fortunate enough to hear birds singing, elk bugling, water flowing in a stream or aspen leaves quaking, it can alter our heart rate and help our brain’s connections.

Before You Leave, Check This Out