It all started a couple of weeks ago when I did a loop hike through the foothills, the return trip of which was down a paved road bordering open space. I glimpsed a tiny peripheral movement and realized it was a critter I’ve never before seen in the foothills — a mouse.
My best guess about why I finally saw one, after all these years, is that many fewer of its predators — snakes in particular — are around during the winter. I love its tiny paws, which seem quite a bit like hands. I was surprised it was so pink.
A few days later, a friend and I went down to Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. I confess that I’ve had a bit of a bad attitude about BDA, as it’s abbreviated; I’ve felt that I could see all the same migrating birds at the Ladd S. Gordon State Waterfowl Complex, which is 40 miles closer. But my friend had never been to BDA, so off we went.
As we were driving around the one-way road, I noticed some motion in the field to my left and realized it was a group of javelinas!1 They were moving in exactly the opposite direction from us. I began backing up so I could stay even with them, explaining to my friend that if you back up on a one-way road, you aren’t actually going the wrong way.2
We finally got to a point where the javelinas had slowed down and were milling around, so I jumped out of the car to take some photos. There were other folks there too, including an official BDA van full of people. I was still taking photos when the van started up again and slowly drove past me. The driver leaned out of his window and I expected him to reprimand me for having backed up on a one-way road. Instead he said, “Wasn’t that great?!?”
By that time, we’d inadvertently become part of an impromptu caravan which included the van and several other cars. Within a minute or two, we saw another group of javelinas crossing the road up ahead. We all spilled out of our cars again, with our cameras ready, and then I realized there was a baby! Oh my goodness! It was one of the cutest critters I have ever seen, about the size of a small dog or large cat.
I also saw a number of birds at Bosque del Apache, some of which I have never seen at the State Waterfowl Area (or at home). Needless to say, my attitude toward BDA has undergone a dramatic shift —and I can’t wait to go back. Even if it is a much longer trip.
Back in Albuquerque, I hiked one day from a different trailhead than my usual. As I was heading home, I saw a herd of five deer crossing the road in front of me. I immediately parked and jumped out of my car with my camera.3 I was right next to a large vacant area in between two houses and watched as the group very deliberately walked across it to the house up the hill. I more or less followed them and realized they were taking turns drinking from a large water dish on the porch.
A second group of three or four followed them to the porch. I thought trespassing would be in bad form so I began walking back down to my car, wondering whether the water bowl was for the homeowner’s pets or the deer, all of whom were still clustered around it. And then I heard, from the porch, a woman talking baby talk and was pretty sure I knew the answer.
I think they’re really cute and, since they don’t live anywhere near Albuquerque, I almost never see them. You can learn more about them here.
I did not really believe that, but the alternative was missing the javelinas entirely, which … no way.
Driving with me often involves sudden stops. I’ve noticed, over the years, that only a few brave souls are willing to come along.
Awesome pics! Never knew what a javalina looked like before!
How wonderful! Ned and I saw javalinas, including some juveniles, a few years ago at Ted Turner's Ladder Ranch near Truth or Consequences. My favorite Facebook page is called "Critters of New Mexico." Do you know of it?