CATALYST

Catching a glimpse of an apex predator in the wild can be a rare and often dangerous prospect. These top-tier hunters are elusive creatures, roaming vast territories far from human civilization. Fortunately, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science offers an easier alternative to appreciate and better understand these magnificent creatures from up close.  

Here, you can admire their power and beauty without having to travel to the far corners of the world. From life-like dioramas to prehistoric fossils and special exhibitions, visitors can encounter some of nature's most formidable hunters past and present.  

Read on for a list of seven amazing apex predators you can discover and where to find them at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science: 

Plesiosaur: Ferocious Marine Reptile

Long-neck plesiosaurs were stealthy hunters of the ancient seas in the Jurassic. They used their long necks to sneak up on unsuspecting prey like fish and shellfish. When they dove down into the oceans depths, they kept their nostrils open to smell underwater. This enabled them to pinpoint their prey by detecting tiny amounts of chemicals in the water. The plesiosaurs died out 66 million years ago at the same as the dinosaurs on land.

This is the LAST WEEK to come see an up-close, full-size cast of this incredible marine reptile and many more ancient deep sea predators at the "Jurassic Oceans: Monsters of the Deep."

T. Rex: Tyrant King of the Dinosaurs

Even though we're proud there's such a vast world to discover from across the ages at our Museum, there's a reason our guest often call us the "Dinosaur Museum." This is a great place to see dinosaurs, especially the tyrant king, top predator of dinosaur kingdom — Tyrannosaurus Rex!

Yes, when you enter into the Museum, you're sure to remember the iconic "dancing" T. rex, but that's definitely not the only chance you have to get a close look at this fierce predator from the Cretaceous Period. Right now, in the giant screen Infinity Theater we have “T. REX” the movie playing. With state-of-the-art CGI and cutting-edge paleontological insights, this movie offers an unprecedented journey into the world of the T. rex and its fellow Cretaceous carnivores.

Afterwards, go back downstairs to experience the temporary “Discovering Teen Rex” exhibition to see the extremely rare T. rex fossil and its amazing discovery by three kids in North Dakota that was featured in the movie. Get an up-close look at this remarkable specimen and learn what it reveals about the growth and development of these fearsome apex predators. 

Read more: Teen Rex Discovery Roars into the Denver Museum of Nature & Science

Gray Wolves: Cooperative Carnivores

Roaming the the North American Wildlife Halls on the second floor, you'll encounter the gray wolf in a diorama setting that recreates its natural habitat. These intelligent pack hunters once dominated much of North America, including Colorado, and were the main predators of large mammals on the continent. The Museum's diorama highlights their complex social relationships, highlighting how these adaptable predators work together to take down prey much larger than themselves.

Mountain Lions: Silent Stalkers

In the Edge of the Wild Hall, you'll find perhaps the cuddliest looking apex predators. Against a beautiful desert canyon backdrop, the mountain diorama portrays a mama mountain lion providing food for her adorable litter of cubs. Also known as cougars or pumas, mountain lions are the silent stalkers of the Americas. Just looking at the diorama, it's not hard to imagine how their powerful build would allow them to achieve explosive bursts of speed and makes incredible leaps when hunting their prey.

Polar Bears: Largest Land Meat Eaters

Walk into the Bears and Sea Mammals wing of the Wildlife Halls to come face-to-face with the world's largest land carnivore. The polar bear diorama showcases these majestic creatures in their icy domain. Learn about their incredible adaptations, from their thick blubber layer to their water-repellent fur, which allows them to survive in one of the harshest environments on Earth. Polar bears are becoming even harder to see in the wild as their habitat is shrinking due to climate change. That's why it's so important we appreciate and care about them all the more!

Lions: Masters of the African Savanna

In the Botswana, Africa diorama hall on the third floor, you can see the kings of the savanna. Observe the social structure of a pride and learn about the distinct roles of males and females. The exhibit highlights their cooperative hunting techniques and the vital part they play in maintaining the delicate balance of their ecosystem.

Bald Eagle: Airborne Apex Predator

In the Birds of the Americas diorama hall, discover the rulers of the skies and the symbol of the United States of America—the bald eagle. While they may not have any natural predators, the diorama shows that pesky magpies sometimes will give bald eagles a hard time as they try to steal a bite off the eagle's kill.