Photo of a group of people walking through the valley.

Wildlife

Visitors love to see elk herds dotting the vast grasslands inside the caldera. Some 2,500-3,500 may be on the preserve during the summer parts, a part of the Jemez Mountain elk herd. It’s the second largest in the state (the largest is found in the Gila Mountains in southwest New Mexico). During the early summer (late-May into early-June), you may spot solitary cow elk with their newborns at their side. Often calving in the open, the mothers find a safe place to hide the newborns until they are old enough to keep up with herd.

Later in the summer, the young elk are minded as a group by several cows in a “nursery herd.” By fall, the cows are ready for breeding and “the rut” (breeding season) reaches its peak by mid-Sept. As winter snows deepen, many elk leave the preserve for lower elevations and more food. Some head south to grasslands in an old burn area in Bandelier National Monument, southeast of the preserve. Others may head north and west of the preserve in search of forage.

By late spring, the elk return to the caldera again. The bull elk drop their antlers in late March and into April, and the new antlers begin to grow soon after. The elk feed hungrily on the new spring grass, dropping their heavy coats as the days lengthen and warm.

Prairie dog towns dot the preserve, full of life. Visitors frequently seek coyotes on the hunt. A breeding pair of Golden Eagles has made the preserve their summer home, and is often seen by visitors along Jaramillo Creek. Nearly 60 species of birds breed in the caldera during the summer. Wild turkey, black bear, bobcat and even the reclusive mountain lion are just some of what our visitors chance upon during their hike, while fishing, or on a van tour. This rich abundance of the preserve’s mountain forests and grasslands are part of the experience you’ll treasure.

Come visit.