Are there jackrabbits in So NM? (Las Cruces, Rio Rancho: quiet, kitchen, hunting)

[gnubler]

They are plentiful in the high desert around Flagstaff, AZ, mostly at dusk - do you have them in Southern NM? What type of wildlife is typical in quiet areas?

[chilegal]

I have way to many rabbits..They are eating my cacti and that doesn't make me happy. Lots of Gambel Quail also. Love watching the babies. THis is right outside of Alamogordo.
Jane

[Mark S.]

Originally Posted by gnubler

They are plentiful in the high desert around Flagstaff, AZ, mostly at dusk - do you have them in Southern NM? What type of wildlife is typical in quiet areas?

Lots and lots of jackrabbits. You'll also find rattlesnakes, bull snakes, scorpions, prairie dogs, road runners, coyotes, and maybe even the occasional javelina. My dad sees them around Las Cruces.

[TKO]

Originally Posted by Mark S.

Lots and lots of jackrabbits. You'll also find rattlesnakes, bull snakes, scorpions, prairie dogs, road runners, coyotes, and maybe even the occasional javelina. My dad sees them around Las Cruces.

Good list. There are of course cotton tails too. You can add cougars, I've seen one just south of Cruces there's also bobcats. Sandhill Cranes in the winter, ducks, ...in abundance in the irrgation canals. Redtail, Harris and Prarie Hawks and the occasional Golden Eagle. Badgers are pretty common but rarely seen. And there's the exotics, Oryx have spread widely outside WSMR due to the lack of any predator than can take them on. There's also Ibex in the Florida mountains.

[Buzz123]

There are jackrabbits by the zillions from at least Missouri all the way across the west to the Pacific coast. Best time to see them is starting around midnight. They like to play chicken with cars.

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by chilegal

I have way to many rabbits..They are eating my cacti and that doesn't make me happy. Lots of Gambel Quail also. Love watching the babies. THis is right outside of Alamogordo.
Jane

What hummer (hummingbird) is prevalent there? Black-chinned?

I plan to put out a feeder next spring!

I don't do birdwatching myself other than from the kitchen table over a cup of coffee...but I'm kin to three rabid watchers who have life lists....LOL!!!

[Mark S.]

Originally Posted by TKO

Good list. There are of course cotton tails too. You can add cougars, I've seen one just south of Cruces there's also bobcats. Sandhill Cranes in the winter, ducks, ...in abundance in the irrgation canals. Redtail, Harris and Prarie Hawks and the occasional Golden Eagle. Badgers are pretty common but rarely seen. And there's the exotics, Oryx have spread widely outside WSMR due to the lack of any predator than can take them on. There's also Ibex in the Florida mountains.

Very true. My brother in Rio Rancho goes oryx hunting every now and then. Antelope, too!

And don't forget the raccoons, porcupines, possums, and skunks! They aren't everywhere, but in the forested mountains you'll definitely have raccoons. We saw them around Ruidoso quite often. And black bears. Definitely bears in the mountains.

There are wild sheep in the mountains, but in all my years of living in NM I saw them in the wild once.

And let's not forget the terapins, tarantulas, and horned toads (though New Mexicans call them horny toads; say "horned toad" and folks'll think you're from California).

[Mark S.]

Originally Posted by Cathy4017

What hummer (hummingbird) is prevalent there? Black-chinned?

The little kind that flaps its wings very, very fast. Seriously, I have no idea what the difference is. But there are definitely hummingbirds.

And bats! Let's not forget the bats. Especially around Carlsbad. Lots and lots and lots of bats.

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by Mark S.

The little kind that flaps its wings very, very fast. Seriously, I have no idea what the difference is. But there are definitely hummingbirds.

And bats! Let's not forget the bats. Especially around Carlsbad. Lots and lots and lots of bats.

Very funny, Mark.......

It's fun to watch bats emerge from wherever!! They're neat little critters, and very beneficial!

[KimK]

Haven't seen a Black-chinned Hummingbird although they are supposed to be all over the southwest. I have seen Magnificent Hummingbirds around Cloudcroft which are surprisingly big and look very black all over.I see mostly broad billed hummingbirds. I don't have a list. I just like all types of birds. I found a fledging Peregrin Falcon holding my chihuahuas at bay in the back yard not too long ago. It finally flew away. What a beauty.