What animals can I encounter in the mountains?

The biologist Iván Rivas explains which animals we can recognize and observe during a hike in the mountains. Find out in What animals can I encounter in the mountains?

If you are passionate about nature and go hiking, you have the opportunity to admire the mountainous landscape offered by different destinations focused on outdoor activities. If we pay attention to the environment, we can observe local fauna; which can be endemic to that site. This means that they only live in that area or region.

The fauna that we can admire during a hike can be varied; birds are usually the most common animals due to the way they move in their environment and the vocalizations they emit to communicate with each other. Mammals would be the second most common group, and in last place are reptiles.

Colibrí pico ancho norteño (Cynnanthus latirostris) / Northern broad-billed hummingbird (Cynnanthus latirostris)
Fotografía / Photography: Jorge Alberto Duque Sánchez

The National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO) estimates that there are more than a thousand species of birds, 564 species of mammals and 864 species of reptiles in Mexico. Bird watching is a recreational activity that invites you to awaken your senses and be alert throughout the journey you take. It’s spectacular to recognize species such as hummingbirds or some songbirds. During observation, you acquire skills that help you recognize physical and behavioral characteristics of each species. 

Grosbeak azul (Passerina caerulea) / Blue grosbeak (Passerina caerulea)
Fotografía / Photography: Jorge Alberto Duque Sánchez

Mammals are animals that are characterized by having fur, being born from the mother’s womb and feeding their young with milk through mammary glands. Due to their eating habits, they need to leave their shelter to get food, and this is when we can observe them in the wild. These animals can spend a large part of the day or night getting food.

Tlacuache (Didelphis virginiana) / Opossum (Didelphis virginiana)
Fotografía / Photography: Jorge Alberto Duque Sánchez

For example, the Opossum is one of the most common animals to see when it is looking for fruits or seeds; we can also find some medium-sized mammals such as the Fox. This carnivorous mammal also usually travels around its territory in search of food, mainly other small mammals such as rabbits, rodents, hares, birds and eggs. The gray fox can also feed on insects, fruits and berries, making it an omnivorous animal.

Zorro gris (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) / Gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus)
Fotografía / Photography: Jorge Alberto Duque Sánchez

Reptiles have diverse habits; they can be terrestrial, live in caves or under logs and stones, they can be arboreal, semi-aquatic or aquatic; some even manage to glide thanks to the skin expansions that act as parachutes. During a hike in the mountains, the most common reptile that we can find are the Lizards, which have a wide range of colors and textures, derived from their scales. The males are usually very colorful during the breeding season and most lizards feed on insects. These animals are easy to observe, since we can find them on logs or stones sunbathing. 

Lagartija (Sceloporus) / Lizard (Sceloporus)
Fotografía / Photography: Jorge Alberto Duque Sánchez

Another reptile that becomes misunderstood due to misinformation is the snake. These animals usually live in caves, under stones and logs and for this reason it is difficult to observe them during a hike. However, we can find very peculiar species such as rattlesnakes or some grass snakes; these reptiles help us to control rodent populations, and although some snakes can cause serious injuries to humans, most avoid contact with them.

Serpiente de cascabel (Crotalus triseriatus) / Rattlesnake (Crotalus triseriatus)
Fotografía / Photography: Jorge Alberto Duque Sánchez

Respecting the fauna we find during a hike in the mountains will help its conservation. Always remember to keep your distance when observing any animal and never try to remove it from its natural habitat.

Respecting the fauna we find during a hike in the mountains will help its conservation. 

Culebra (Trimorphodon biscutatus) / Grass snake (Trimorphodon biscutatus)
Fotografía / Photography: Jorge Alberto Duque Sánchez