Big Bend National Park Wildlife: The Hot Desert Park
BY
Sibashree
Sep 30, 2024
When we hear the term “desert,” we usually imagine a place with sparse traces of life. However, Big Bend National Park is an exception, creating a home for elk, black bears, squirrels, rattlesnakes, and woodpeckers.
Big Bend National Park also has oases created by single strands of cottonwood trees. Further, ephemeral springs, rocky canyons, highland shrubs, junipers, and grasses have contributed to the biodiversity of the park.
So, did you see something moving in the bush? Let’s find out what it can be!
A Vivid Wildlife Thrives At Big Bend National Park
Along with a never-ending variety of mammals and reptiles, the Big Bend National Park has the most butterflies, birds, scorpions, ants, and bats.
Also, various species of animals here play an important role in the ecosystem of the park. Further, a rich and sustainable food chain here keeps the diversity intact.
Mammals At Big Bend National Park
Home to 75 species of mammals, Big Bend National Park shows an extraordinary variety of mammals you can see. Further, it is hard to believe how the tiniest Western pipistrelle bat and the largest black bear can coexist in a space.
Nevertheless, along with bobcats, black bears, and javelinas, you will also get to see mountain lions, coyotes, gray foxes, bighorn sheep, aoudad, nutria, and elk.
Further, among the petite ones, the most common species here are lagomorphs, badgers, squirrels, and ringtails.
Birds At Big Bend National Park
If you are a birder and want to make the most of your bird-watching experience here, you must be at the right spot at the right time. So, the table below shows the bird-watching locations in the park and which bird species you will encounter there.
Rio Grande Village Nature TrailGreen KingfisherNorthern cardinalGreen heronGolden-fronted WoodpeckerCommon black hawkChisos MountainsBlack-crested titmouseMexican JayNorthern flickerAcorn woodpeckerCottonwood CampgroundVermillion flycatcherGreat-horned owlBlack vultureLadder-backed WoodpeckerDugout WellsSummer TanagerAsh-throated flycatcherWhite-winged doveInca doveGreat roadrunnerSam Nail RanchScaled quailPainted buntingPyrrhuloxiaYellow-breasted chatGreen-tailed towheeBlue CreekBlack-throated sparrowLucifer hummingbirdMourning doveBlue grosbeakCactus wren
Also, spring is the best time to visit Big Bend National Park if you want to encounter the most colorful birds. Further, in this season, some of the rarest migratory birds flock to this desert park.
So, late February to May is the best time for bird watching in Big Bend National Park.
Amphibians At Big Bend National Park
You will find a wide variety of amphibians along the Rio Grande floodplain and in many other parts of the park. However, the amphibians here mostly are different species of toads and frogs.
So, here is a list of toads and frogs in this national park.
Great Plains narrow-mouthed toad
Couch's spadefoot toad
Red-spotted toad
Green toad
Spotted chirping frog
Rio Grande leopard frog
Canyon treefrog
Texas toad
These toads are frogs found near the lakes and springs in the park. Moreover, if you are camping in the park or exploring the backcountry camping at Big Bend in summer, you will hear these amphibians’s loudest cries at night.
Reptiles At Big Bend National Park
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The Chihuahuan Greater Earless Lizard in Big Bend National Park is one of the most colorful reptiles you will come across. Further, the males display a riot of colors, with a touch of orange, green, yellow, and brown all over their bodies.
However, this desert park harbors many other species of lizards and snakes. Check out the table below to learn about these species.
Lizards in Big Bend National ParkTexas Horned LizardRound-tailed Horned LizardEastern Collared LizardGreat Plains SkinkShort-lined SkinkGreen AnoleSouthwestern Fence LizardCrevice Spiny LizardSnakes in Big Bend National ParkTrans-Pecos CopperheadWestern CoachwhipWestern Diamondback RattlesnakeMojave RattlesnakeBlack-tailed RattlesnakeMottled Rock RattlesnakeBaird's Rat SnakeTrans-Pecos Rat SnakeRegal Ring-necked SnakeSonoran Gopher Snake, etc. Turtles in Big Bend National ParkYellow mud turtleBig bend sliderDesert box turtleTexas spiny softshell
The warm climate and extreme heat in the summer season have made Big Bend National Park ideal for the habitation and breeding of various reptiles.
Fish At Big Bend National Park
Finding schools of fish in a desert park like the Big Bend National Park is a little astonishing. However, the park is blessed with the Rio Grande and its tributaries. So, you can see fish in the Terlingua creeks and Tornillo.
Unfortunately, nine species of fish in the park are now extinct. Still, it has varieties, such as Big Bend Gambusia, catfish, largemouth bass, longnose dace, bluegill, green sunfish, and blue tilapia.
Do you know that the last American Eel was taken from Rio Grande in 1954? Further, Big Bend Gambusia is an endangered species, and it is now only found in a protected pond close to the Rio Grande Village.
Also, the invasive species of blue tilapia has now become a pest. So, many organizations are now against the further spread of this species.
Insects At Big Bend National Park
The two-tailed swallowtail caterpillar is the most adorable insect in the Big Bend National Park. Other insects found in the national park are black beetles, whirligig beetles, and yucca moths.
Yucca moths play a crucial role in the ecology of the Big Bend National Park. It is responsible for pollinating the creamy-white yucca flowers that bloom at night.
Further, in the Chisos Mountains, you will find beebrush plants where bumblebees, honey bees, and other species of bees roam around. Moreover, in the summer, you will find ladybugs on the peaks.
Other insects found at Big Bend National Park are:
Tarantula hawks
Millipedes (mostly seen after a rainfall)
Diplopoda or two-footed insects
Diplopoda is very vital for nutrient recycling in the Big Bend National Park. It creates burrows in the ground of around 1 or 1 and a half feet. Further, they feed on plant remains to return essential nutrients to nature.
A varied geology, including a river corridor, mountains, acres of Chihuahuan desert, and oases, has made Big Bend National Park rich in wildlife. This desert park has around 75 species of mammals and 450 species of birds. It is also home to more than 50 species of reptiles and many amphibians.
So, for a wildlife lover, this desert park in Texas is a sheer delight!
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