Author Archives: ChihuahuanDesertProtector

Young Mexican wolf pup born at the El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens in 2022. By Rick LoBello, Board Member The Right to be Wild, a documentary by Madileine Torneman opens with a quote by Aldo Leopold “Only the mountain has lived long enough to listen objectively to the howl of the wolf.” Fifteen yearsContinueContinue reading “Only the mountain has lived long enough to listen objectively to the howl of the wolf”

Often the word “conservation” is synonymous with beach clean ups, recycling, planting trees, etc. What about “wildlife conservation”? Wildlife conservation is the preservation and protection of animals, plants, and their habitats. One component of wildlife conservation that is often overlooked is their health. Just like humans and our pets, animals like lions and dolphins getContinueContinue reading “Wild Animal Heath Fund helps zoo and wildlife veterinarians”

This is a monarch butterfly feeding on a showy milkweed (Asclepias speciose). Many people are alarmed at how our most recognizable species of butterfly, the monarch butterfly, is dramatically declining in many areas of the country.  Butterfly watchers and scientists have been sounding the alarm for years and recently the US Fish and Wildlife Service completed aContinueContinue reading “How we can help monarch butterflies”

Desert WillowChilopsis linearisCommon small desert tree.Some plants can grow up to 30 feet tall.Habitat: Arid grassland/desert scrub.At the El Paso Zoo: Along the pathway in the Chihuahuan Desert Exhibit.  Desert willow responds to heavy rains 2-3 times each year with pink flower clusters.  We recommends it as a water efficient tree to landscape with at home.  InContinueContinue reading “Desert Willow”

Black-tailed Rattlesnake Crotalus molossus Status: CommonSize: 28-49 inchesHabitat: Desert scrub and forestAt the Zoo: Reptile House The black-tailed rattlesnake is one of six species of rattlesnakes found in El Paso county including the western diamondback rattlesnake, rock rattlesnake, Mohave rattlesnake, prairie rattlesnake and massasauga.  Not to be confused with other rattlesnakes one of their most distinguishing features is anContinueContinue reading “Chihuahuan Desert Wildlife: black-tailed rattlesnake”

By Rick LoBello, Board Member In 2020 over 400,000 people visited Big Bend National Park and most missed seeing something truly spectacular, a forest of giant daggers in full bloom. The gravel road to Dagger Flat is definitely off the beaten path, but for those who don’t mind the road conditions and visit at theContinueContinue reading “Glory of the Chihuahuan Desert: Giant Daggers”

Arctic Fox Many have heard the story of the canary in the coal mine and how years ago Canaries were used in coal mines to detect the presence of carbon monoxide. The bird’s rapid breathing rate, small size, and high metabolism, compared to the miners, led birds in dangerous mines to succumb before the miners, therebyContinueContinue reading “Is the warming Arctic a Canary in the coal mine for El Paso and an early warning of danger?”

This is a small skeleton-leaf goldeneye at Franklin Mountains State Park. The skeleton-leaf goldeneye may be one of the best drought tolerant plants to landscape with in El Paso. This member of the sunflower family helps to add lots of color to your yard while attracting nectar loving butterflies, moths, bees and other insects.  The seedsContinueContinue reading “Chihuahuan Desert Plants: Skeleton-leaf Goldeneye”

By Jacob Croft, El Paso Zoo Volunteer Golden Eagle Aguila chrysaetos Status: Least Concerned Size:  27.6-33.1 inches, Wingspan: 72.8-86.6 inches Habitat: Wide range of habitat types, including high-altitude regions, deserts, forests and open areas. At the Zoo: Education Animal in Training.   Not on exhibit. The Golden Eagle is a fascinating bird to watch fly with its massiveContinueContinue reading “Chihuahuan Desert Wildlife: The Golden Eagle”

By Rick LoBello, Board Member There are a number of animals and plants that are found only in the Chihuahuan Desert. We call these species endemic species, those that are found in a particular geographical region and nowhere else in the world.  Candelilla or wax euphorbia is one of them, but here in El Paso itContinueContinue reading “Only In the Chihuahuan Desert: Candelilla”