Background+Information

The Pajarito Plateau and the Jemez Mountains are unique ecosystems in New Mexico. The mountains ring around the remnants of an ancient volcano that erupted over a million years ago. Along the eastern edge of the mountains (called the Sierra del Los Valles) a skirt-like extension forms the Pajarito Plateau. Erosion has created a maze of canyons up to 800 feet deep dissecting the Plateau into mesas. Along the eastern edge of the plateau, the Rio Grande runs through a 1000 ft deep canyon. Not only are the mountains, canyons, and mesa highly scenic, but they are also home to many common and some rare animals.

The first residents of the Plateau were Native Americans. They lived on the land, sustained populations, and utilized resources of the varied landscape. In the 1800s, homesteaders, seasonally farmed, hunted and raised livestock. In the 20th century, the Ranch School, and development of Los Alamos further changed the landscape. Policies of fire suppression, livestock grazing, and other influences have caused massive fires that have changed the food availability for some species and habitat for others. Predator hunting in the 1930s caused extinction of species that once roamed the area, such as the wolf.

The mountains and plateau are the home to rare, endangered, threatened, and sensitive species such as the Mexican Spotted Owl, Willow flycatcher, Jemez Mountain Salamander, and Goat Peak Pika.

Today the Plateau is the home of densely populated areas of Los Alamos and White Rock. Because of constraints of the geography and land ownership the plateau is otherwise sparsely populated and wildlife is abundant and diverse. Areas such as Bandelier National Monument and the Valle Caldera provide vast unpopulated areas where wildlife can thrive.

This mountain range is unique in New Mexico because of its geology, history, and demographics. It is also the home of many who love the out-of-doors and love to observe the nature around them. Since many of the State designated species are not commonly found in these high desert ecosystems, identification of common species is important to the educational process of children and adults that live on and visit this unique and beautiful area.