Mammals of the Southwest Mountains and Mesas

From the lofty alpine ridges at 14,000 feet down to the arid lowlands of the desert foothills, this compact guide surveys the mammals that call the Southwest’s rugged mountains and mesas home. Richly illustrated with Ed Bierly’s detailed drawings, each species is presented alongside concise notes on habitat, behavior, and the elevation zone where it thrives. Readers gain a clear sense of how beavers, mule deer, mountain lions, and even the elusive kit fox fit into the intricate web of life across the region.

Beyond the biology, the book weaves a brief chapter on the early mountain‑men who chased beaver pelts through these very passes, offering a glimpse of the rugged human history that shaped the landscape. Together with clear maps of elevation and precipitation, the text invites listeners to imagine both animal and explorer moving across the same corridors of pine, juniper, and sagebrush. It serves as both a field companion and a gentle reminder of why protecting these habitats matters today.