There are many species of wildlife in New Mexico such as eagles and deer.
New Mexico has many varieties of wildlife that I will describe in this article. There are six life zones to be found in the state. Be sure to be prepared for viewing in various areas, carry water, dress for the season, have pocket field guides to identify the wildlife and bring along your binoculars. Do not bring along your pets as they may get away from you and run after or kill the wildlife. Wearing dark-colored clothing will help you to blend in with the natural setting of the area. You will not want to touch any of the wildlife as some might be dangerous or carry disease. When you are near wildlife it is recommended that you be very still and that you speak softly and please stay on public lands instead of private property. Wildlife is best viewed at a distance. You should be able to take beautiful photographs of the wildlife especially with a telephoto lens and a tripod. Highway signs will identify the geographical boundaries and habitat types of the nine regions.
The six zones for viewing wildlife in New Mexico will each have conditions of climatic and elevation for habitation. The desert region in New Mexico is in the southern portion of the desert and the plants in this area are of the Chihuahuan Desert. There are excellent viewing sites such as Aguirre Spring, Oliver Lee State Park, Granite Gap and others. This desert region is called the Lower Sonoran Life Zone with elevations of up to 3,000 feet. The Grassland/Woodland Zone known as the Upper Sonoran Life Zone has elevations of up to 4,500 feet with many trees such as juniper, pine, oak and many varieties of grass. Viewing sites in this region are Capulin Volcano, Wild Rivers Recreation Area, Kiowa Grassland, near the Gila Cliff Dwellings and Mescalero Sands. The Mountain Zone known as the Transition Zone has elevations of up to 7,000 feet with ponderosa pines plentiful. Rice Park and Lake Roberts are viewing sites in this zone. The Canadian Life Zon, called the Mixed Coniferous Zone has elevations of up to 8,500 feet with forests of ponderosa pine, aspen, white and Douglas fir trees. The viewing sites for this zone would be the Mogollon Road in Gila Country and the Sargent Wildlife with various other sites. The Hudsonian Zone, called the Subalpine Zone has elevations of up to 9,500 fee. There are forests of corkbark fir, subalpine fir, Englemann spruce and bristlecone pine as a few of the varieties. This life zone will include the Jemez, Sandia, Sacramento Sangre de cristo and the Mount Taylor Mountains. The Alpine Zone has elevations up to ll,500 feet with tundra above the tree lines. These viewing sites will include Sierra Blance, the Pecos and Wheeler Peak wilderness areas and others. There are nine regions described below that are included in these zones along with the wildlife in the regions.
In northern New Mexico just above Santa Fe there are wilderness areas that have life zones such as subalpine, mixed coniferous and transition zones. The wildlife in this area will have snowshoe hares, mountain lions, blue grouse, Rocky Mountain elk and black bears among others. Elk may be seen near Valle Grande in a caldera. Depending on the season one might see over l40 species of birds. The smooth green snake, many-lined shink, coyote, fox, raccoon, waterfowl, as well as raptors may be seen in this area. Bighorn sheep, mule deer, hermit thrushes, Abert squirrels and wild turkeys are dwelling in this area. Gunnison's prairie dog, the pronghorn antelope and bison may be seen.
In areas with big sage brush plants the white-tailed rabbit may be observed along with the sora, sandhill crane and common yellowthroat. A number of viewing areas are available such as Vale, Randall Davey Audubon Center, Salmon Ranch, Pecos Wilderness, Stewart Meadows and the Wild Rivers Recreation Area. Others will include the Sugarite Canyon State Park, W. A. "Bill" Humphries Wildlife Area, Cimarron Canyon and Philmont Ranch Road.
New Mexico will join 3 other states including Colorado, Utah and Arizona at the Four Corners Area. You might think about driving through the Chuska Mountains onward to Red Lake, or to Navajo Lake State Park by the San Juan River Unit, or possibly to the River Reach Terrace, at Berg Park. Migratory waterfowl tend to stop at Red Lake and you might have sightings of the red-tailed hawk, great blue heron, mallards, Canada geese or even eared grebes. The rock squirrel, porcupines, raccoon, beavers, and muskrats can be seen along with mule deer and those attractive western painted turtles. Bald eagles can be viewed in the winter along with the geese from Canada. Cottonwood Campground at Simon Canyon may provide viewing of the oriole, flycatcher, and many water fowl along with hybrid cuttthroat-rainbow trout. Jicarilla Lakes Loop will have views of the vesper sparrow, elk, mule deer, black bears and peregrine falcon among others. Rice Park where Rice Lake is located in the Cibola National Forest will provide views of the lesser scaup, cinnamon teal, mallard, Steller's jay, vesper sparrow, and various swallow species. The road to Mount Taylor in northwestern New Mexico will provide sightings of mule deer, elk, and raptors. You might even see wild turkeys while in the area. The Zuni Mountains will provide sightings of the Albert squirrel, wild turkey, mule deer, black bears and elk among other sightings. El Malpais National Monument and the surrounding National Conservation Area will have various wildlife such as the burrowing owl, prairie dog, bobcat, and even peregrine falcons along with bison and pronghorns.
The grasslands and prairies of New Mexico have excellent habitats for many species of waterfowl. The sandhill crane, Canadian and snow geese, bald eagles and many species of birds may be found in this location. Some of the viewing sites in the grasslands and prairies will include Wagon Mound with excellent viewing of the pronghorn antelope as well as the meadowlark, migrating ducks, coyotes, golden eagles and Swainson's hawk. Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge at McAllister Lake will have the eared grebe, sandhill cranes and bald eagles among many other species of wildlife. There are two lakes in the prairie called the Charette Lakes that provide excellent viewing of the teal species, mallards, lesser scaup, mule deer, coyotes and the pronghorn as well as other species. Capulin Volcano National Monument has viewing of the turkey vulture, wild turkeys, gray foxes, black bears, and even rattlesnakes. Mills Canyon will provide the arid lads ribbon snake, Barbary sheep, wild turkeys, and many raptors.
In the area of Santa Rosa there will be views of barn swallows, eagles, ring-billed gulls and other waterfowl depending on the season. Clayton Lake State Park will have mule deer, lesser scaup, canvasback, teal and other species as well as the Canada and Snow Geese for your viewing pleasure. The Kiowa Grassland, Unit 33 has views of raccoon, gray fox, pronghorn, mule deer, the American Kestrel, loggerhead shrike and other species. You might even see a turkey vulture in this area.
When you travel through the Gila Country of New Mexico especially in the Gila National Forest you will see many varieties of wildlife. Quemado Lake is a fishing reservoir having views of the yellow-headed blackbird, and various species of waterfowl. You will see the mountain tree forge along with elk and golden-mantled ground squirrel. Various songbirds can be viewed during the summer months. Glenwood Fish Hatchery by Whitewater Creek has many birds including the white-throated swift, orioles, painted redstart and the golden eagle among other species. Snakes, raccoons and sometimes the black bear can be seen. There will be many waterfowl viewed during the winter months. Snow Lake in the Mogollon Mountains will have viewing of the hermit thrush, ruby-crowned kinglet, red-faced warbler and elk. Mule deer and wild turkeys can be seen at various times among other species. The wildflowers are beautiful in this area in the summer. In the Gila Riparian Preserve you may view sandhill cranes, vermillion flycatchers, northern cardinals, western wood pewee and many other wildlife species. Dugway Canyon will prive viewings of black hawks, western kingbirds, northern oriole as well as javelina, golden eages and Rocky Mountain Bighorn sheep. Lake Roberts provides views of the Virginia rail, song sparrow, killdeer as well as the rufous, and elk among other species. Turkey Creek Road will offer sightings of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, javelina, mule deer and certain raptors such as the zone-tailed hawk, common black hawk and the bald and golden eagles. You might even view a mountain lion while in the area. Fort Bayard has views of the Montezuma Mountains with views of wild turkey, plain titmouse as well as the bobcat, porcupine as well as other wildlife species.
The Southern Rio Grande Valley is an important area for various birds to migrate. Water Canyon will provide viewing of the black-chinned hummingbird, mountain chickadee, as well as other species of birds depending on the season. You might even see the mule deer, or pronghorn antelope as well as the golden eagle. La Joya Refuge has migratory waterfowl during a few months as the teal species, lesser scaup, goose species and in summer many songbirds. From November till February you can view the American avocet, green-backed heron and the Virginia rail among other species of waterfowl and birds. The Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge has over 300 species of birds, many reptiles, amphibians and mammals. There will be sightings of wading birds, songbirds, shore birds and cranes. North Monticello Point has the American white pelican as well as bald eagles and Clark's grebe in the summer as well as many other species of wildlife. Caballo Lkae offers the gulls, cormorant, and many waterfowl species as well as the sandhill crane. Aquirre Spring Campground will provide sightings of the red-tailed hawk, canyon and rock wrens, and the Chihuahuan whiptail. You might even see a gray fox, of the banded rattlesnake while in this area.
The Manzanos and the Sandias Mountains provide excellent viewing of the peregrine falcon, golden eagle and turkey vulture as well as the American kestrel and Cooper's and Swainson's hawks. The Rio Grande Nature Center has views of many migratory waterfowl, Canadian geese as well as mallard ducks. The Sandhill cranes are available from November to January. There are various nesting birds for viewing at this excellent nature center. In the Manzano Mounts on Capilla Peak one can view many migrating raptors as well as falcons, eagles and hawks. On the crest of the Sandia Mountains once can view many warbler species of birds. One might see the common raven and other species of wildlife such as the least and Colorado chipmunk and mule deer. Tajique canyon has views of the ferruginous, hawks, American kestrel and the prairie falcons. Merriams's turkey can be views July through October as well as the New Mexico milk snake.
The Southern Mountains such as Sierra Blanca provide views of mountain lions, shorebirds and hummingbirds as well as wild turkeys. Karr Canyon has views of Grace's, Virginia's and Black-throates grays as well as lesser goldfinch, long-tailed weasel, raccoon and elk. The Valley of Fires has views of the gray-footed chipmunk, brown towhee, and the rock wren as well as the Barbary sheep, scaled quail among many species of wildlife in this area. Bluff Springs has sightings of the rufous and broad-tailed hummingbird, band-tailed pigeon, western tanager and many other bird species as well as owls. The area around White Sands National Monument will provide viewing of snakes, rodents, darkling beetles as well as the white-faced ibis, Wilson's phalarope and Franklin's gull as well as other species of wildlife.
The Boothell is the name given for the area in the southwestern corner of New Mexico. The Gila monster and checkend whiptail lizard can be found in this area as well as many uncommon birds. The Lower Gila Box area along the Gila River will provide viewing of Clark's spiny lizard, the spiny softshell turtle, cliff swallow, northern cardinal as well as many species of birds and other wildlife. In the Red Rock Wildlife Area you will have views of the coyote, javelina as well as the desert bighorn sheep. The City of Rocks State Park has views of the kangaroo rate, porpcupine, rock squirrel, Gambel's quail and the great horned owl as well as other species.
Granite Gap has views of many varieties of lizards, rattlesnakes and the northern mockingbird. The nocturnal ringtail, mule deer, javgelina and desert bighorn sheep may be seen.
Llano Estacado (Staked Plains) are in southeastern New Mexico. In this area views can be seen of the prairie chicken, Mexican free-tailed bat and other species. Black Hills and Milnesand Prairie Chicken Area will provide viewing of the courtship of the lesser prairie chicken. This extends from March l5 through April 20. Sitting Bull Falls has viewing of the western and hepatic tanager, white-throated swift and the black phoebe along with only songbirds. Rattlesnake Springs will provide viewing in various seasons of the Chihauhuan raven, Bell's virco, various bunting species, northern cardinal and many other species of wildlife. Carlsbad Caverns National Park is an excellent area for seeing cave swallows, and Mexican free-tailed bats as well as the desert mule deer.
New Mexico offers views of many species of wildlife depending on the life zones you choose to enter or the various regions described above. Bring along your camera and take home some beautiful pictures and come back again.
