A beautiful coyote at sunset in the BWP Ecosystems are full of symbiotic relationships, which are long term interactions between different organisms. Some of these interactions are one-sided, some are parasitic, and occasionally some benefit both organisms, which is called a mutualistic relationship. Mutualistic relationships are not common in the wild because competition for resources heavily influences wildlife behavior. Especially when two predators have a similar prey base, they are...

Herpetology is the study of reptiles and amphibians. They are often grouped together as “cold-blooded” animals and share similar characteristics, but they are actually separated into two distinct classes (Reptilia and Amphibia) of “herps”  that shared a common ancestor about 350 million years ago before diverging down different evolutionary paths.  Cold- and warm-blooded are colloquial, over-simplified terms that refer to the way animals regulate their body temperature. Endotherms, known as...

A barn owl ( Tyto alba ) captured by one of our wildlife cameras at the Borderlands Wildlife Preserve. There are approximately 200 species of owls recognized around the world that are found on every continent except Antarctica. They’ve adapted to thrive in all types of habitat, from snowy tundra to dense jungles, nesting in everything from saguaro cavities to palm tree bootjacks. Across their taxonomic order, Strigiformes, owls exhibit remarkable diversity in size, plumage and eye color, and...