Page "New Mexico" Paragraph 36

New Mexico contains extensive habitat for many plants and animals, especially in desert areas and pinon-juniper woodlands.

Creosote bush, mesquite, cacti, yucca, and desert grasses, including black grama, purple three-awn, tobosa, and burrograss, cover the broad, semiarid plains that cover the southern portion of the state.

The northern portion of the state is home to many tree species such as ponderosa pine, aspen, cottonwood, spruce, fir, and Russian olive, which is an invasive species.

Native birds include the greater roadrunner ( Geococcyx californianus ) and wild turkey ( Meleagris gallopavo ).

Other fauna present in New Mexico include black bears, cougars, coyotes, porcupines, skunks, Mexican gray wolves, deer, elk, plains bison, collared peccary, bighorn sheep, squirrels, chipmunks, pronghorn, western diamondback, kangaroo rat, jackrabbit and a multitude of other birds, reptiles, and rodents.

The black bear native to New Mexico, Ursus americanus amblyceps, was formally adopted as the state's official animal in 1953.