Mule DeerYou’re likely to see them most anywhere: standing still in the forest. drinking by the river, walking down main street or peering in the window of your cabin. They are mule deer and plentiful in these parts.
That hasn’t always been the case. Around the turn of the century, the deer were nearly extinct in the mountains of New Mexico and only a heroic and dedicated effort to reintroduce them allowed the species to repopulate and increase to present day numbers.
Coyotes and domestic dogs are probably the most threatening predators to the deer population, although humans are a greater danger to them. Automobiles kill thousands of deer nationwide. These accidents frequently occur at dawn and dusk when the deer are most active, although they may be on the roadway at any time of day. When crossing roads at night, deer risk the chance of being temporarily blinded by headlights, making them unable to run to safety.
Mule deer are easy to identify by their mule-like ears, which reach lengths of 10 inches. They are also much stockier that whitetail deer. Their coats are dark grey in winter and reddish brown in summer. The antlers - not horns - grow in a "Y" formation from the head.
Beavers: Building A Better Tomorrow
Legendary frontier scout and trapper Kit Carson once remarked that he had never seen a valley so abundant in beaver. Within ten years, the furry rodents were nearly extinct in the Northern New Mexico.
Today, these engineers of the wild can be observed once again in the high country, traversing area rivers, streams and lakes while creating their own habitat through industrious lumbering efforts and pond-building skills. Beavers love to eat the bark of poplars and aspens, then cut down the large and small trees with their ever growing teeth, then use the branches and logs to make dams, canals, and lodges. A beaver lodge is typically 10-20 feet around with 6-8 feet above the water. The entrance is always below the waterline.Beavers are the largest rodent in North America. They can reach a length of 3-4 feet long and weigh 35-70 pounds. They have large, flat tails that can be 16 inches long. They have short, small bodies, round heads and small ears. Their coats are rusty brown.
BUSINESSES