1. Elk
“At the turn of the century, there were no elk in New Mexico,” says Garrett VeneKlasen, northern conservation director for the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance. “Their comeback has been an amazing success story.” Thanks to decades of widespread conservation efforts, there are roughly 100,000 elk in the state. The most magnificent elk roam the Valles Caldera between early September and mid-October, during the mating season. Massive herds assemble and the hauntingly beautiful elk bugle can be heard echoing through the landscape. In the Gila Wilderness, visitors can sometimes spot Mexican gray wolves among the herds.
2. Greater roadrunner
These speedy ground cuckoos are common throughout the desert Southwest, but they especially love the arid scrub brush and foothills of the Land of Enchantment. You’ll know the New Mexico state bird by its characteristic head crest, long tail, and instinct to run rather than fly from danger, reaching top speeds of about 20 mph. Although roadrunners can be found almost anywhere in the state, the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge is a good place to spot this bird and its rarer cousin, the Western yellow-billed cuckoo.
3. Javelina
These “wild sows” are hoofed ungulates that, though once limited to southern New Mexico, have now been reported as far north as Santa Fe. Today you can see members of New Mexico’s growing population in the Big Hatchet, Florida, Tres Hermanas, and Cedar mountains. “On a recent weekend, I went down to Bosque del Apache and saw a group of 60 javelina on one side, and on the other side, a huge flock of wild turkeys,” says Sally Paez, a staff member of the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance. “It was really cool.”
4. Sandhill crane
Late fall is the perfect time to visit Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge to witness the annual arrival of the sandhill cranes to their winter home. Tens of thousands stop all along the Río Grande in search of rest and fuel for their return journey, on which they can cover 400 miles per day. Although once on the brink of extinction due to habitat loss and overhunting, the U.S. crane population is healthy, ensuring these five-foot-tall giants will grace our skies for years to come.
5. Western diamondback rattlesnake
The six-foot-long Western diamondback has venomous fangs on one end and a rattling alarm bell on the other. Rattlesnakes are a critical part of our local landscape, helping control rodent populations. While it can be jarring to come across one on a hike, just back away slowly—rattlesnakes are defensive animals and will only attack when they feel threatened. “You should be fine observing rattlesnakes from 6 to 10 feet,” says Leland Pierce, herpetologist at the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish. The best time to see the Western diamondback is between April and October.
6. Black bear
Although Smokey Bear may be New Mexico’s most famous black bear, there are roughly 8,000 to 9,000 of his brethren living in the state today, especially in the northern mountains. They're often spotted in the Valle Vidal within the Carson National Forest, or in the Valles Caldera National Preserve in the Jemez Mountains, especially around streams. “If you see a bear, stay calm, and do not run,” says Nick Forman, carnivore and small mammal program manager for the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish. “Stand upright, slowly wave your arms, and back away.”
7. Río Grande cutthroat trout
You’ll know the Río Grande cutthroat trout by its brightly colored scales and flashy black spots. These descendants of Pacific Ocean salmon were stranded in New Mexico rivers during the last Ice Age. While their populations have been limited by competition from non-native species, wildfire, and drought, anglers can find them in the Valle Vidal, Río Costilla, upper Pecos, and in the Jemez Mountains, especially in remote areas.
8. Bighorn sheep
Head to Río Grande del Norte National Monument to find these intrepid mountaineers. “You can walk on the trails and see petroglyphs of bighorn sheep and then see the sheep themselves,” VeneKlasen says. Two types of bighorn sheep reside in New Mexico, the hardier Rocky Mountain variety and the smaller desert sheep. Although only a few thousand bighorns currently live in the state, their numbers are growing thanks to multiple conservation efforts, including a project by Taos Pueblo to build a wildlife underpass to prevent collisions. Stop at the Río Grande Gorge Bridge visitor center. “There’s almost always a nice herd of bighorns around there,” says VeneKlasen.
9. Gould’s turkey
Gould’s turkey is the largest and rarest of the country’s wild turkeys. These iridescent birds can only be found in New Mexico’s Animas Mountains and the San Luis and Peloncillo mountains in Arizona. Once on the brink of extinction, Gould’s turkey has rebounded thanks to conservation efforts, which included reestablishing populations with wild birds captured in Mexico. Today, more than 1,200 call the Sky Islands of southern Arizona and New Mexico home. “You can go down in the springtime and watch the Gould’s turkeys strut,” VeneKlasen says.
10. Bison
The majestic head and horns of bison have long been an enduring symbol of the American West. Then in 2016, the bison officially became the national mammal. While tens of millions of bison once roamed throughout the West, New Mexico is home to fewer than 5,000 animals today, most of which are found on private or protected land. Several pueblos are conserving grazing lands for bison to help the species recover, and you can also see the historic herd of more than 1,200 Castle Rock bison at Vermejo, a Ted Turner Reserve, in northern New Mexico.
11. Gila monster
Although you’re more likely to spy a Gila monster on a New Mexico license plate than in the wild, the quest to see America’s largest and only venomous lizard is worth the effort. This sluggish critter with distinctive pink and black scales is mostly found in the Peloncillo Mountains and the Red Rock Wildlife Area near Lordsburg between March and September. Just a few thousand Gila monsters remain in the state, and those numbers are threatened by roadkill deaths, illegal pet trade collection, and climate change. Gila monster venom also led directly to recent medical discoveries, including contributing to the development of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.
12. Coati
Many people believe they’re looking at a monkey when they spy a coati, also called the kudamundi, because of their tall, erect tails. But they’re actually a very close cousin to the raccoon. Although they are most common in the Gila River area of southwestern New Mexico, coatis have been reported as far north as Albuquerque. It is unknown how many coatis currently live in the state, but populations have been historically threatened by agriculture and development.
13. Montezuma quail
For Southwest birders, the Montezuma quail is practically mythical. Despite the loud patterns and colors of its plumage, this quail tends to stay hidden in the undergrowth while digging for seeds and roots. You might be able to catch a peek in the Capitán Mountains, but you’re unlikely to find more than a pair at a time. Although they're not endangered, concern remains about threats to their limited habitat, and efforts to protect their native oak range are underway.
Read more: Learn more about New Mexico wildlife at these rescue and education centers.