Wildlife
Big Bend is full of various different kinds of wildlife. Ranging from the aggressive badger to the short-sighted javelina. For more information hover over each animal photo.
Javelina
Javelina is the common name for the Collared Peccary. These animals can weigh 40 to 60 pounds and be 20 inches tall. They have poor eyesight but an incredible sense of smell that they use to detect predators such as coyotes.
Badgers
These nocturnal animals are one of Big Bend's most unique animals. They burrow in the open Grasslands in the national park and hunt mice, squirrels, and groundhogs. They have a relatively flat body with short and stocky legs. They range from 8.8 to 26 pounds and 1.7 to 2.8 feet long.
Mexican Long-Nosed Bats
Surprisely, the 20 species of bats located in Big Bend make up the largest portion of the mammal species in the park. These little bats feed on flower pollen and nectar and they live in the Chisos Mountains within the US.
Black Bear
Although similar, Black Bears are much smaller than their grizzlier relatives. Black Bears are very opportunistic, meaning that that they eat what's available. For example, Black Bear eat berries, grasses, roots, fish, mammals, and human food.
Gray Fox
This elusive omnivore mostly eats small mammals like voles, mice, and rabbits. The Gray Fox is an exceptional climber and is able to climb vertical tree trunks. Gray foxes actually bark and it can also squeal and growl.
Coyote
These shy creatures are very distinctive and can be heard howling to communicate with one another quite often. They can run up to 40 miles per hour and are omnivores, meaning they eat vegetation and other animals. These cool animals also mate for life!