Antelope Jackrabbit at Muleshoe

Coatis like canyons, as do many animals of the desert since water is easier to come by there. Some canyons, like those in the Galiuros have pools of water even if water is not flowing. Coatis have been harder to find, though, over the past couple of years. The cause is unclear; maybe the drought has kept the number born to a minimum; maybe some disease has affected the population; maybe they have become more afraid of humans; maybe the mountain lion population has taken more. You still see coati tracks by the pools (along with deer, javelina, skunk, and occasional lion). I was hiking once with my daughter Ashley through Muleshoe hoping to find some coatis for her to see. No luck this time, but we did come across a very willing and quite beautiful Antelope Jackrabbit. I was able to photograph him from several angles as he seemed perfectly content eating the grasses. Every once in a while he would "pop" up for a portrait like this one. What is special about the Galiuros is there is always something to see. Maybe not what you came for, but it seems to always have a surprise or two.