Bear Mountains facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bear Mountains |
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Looking north at the Bear Mountains ridgeline.
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 Bear Mountains
Location in New Mexico
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| Location | New Mexico, United States |
| Nearest city | Magdalena, NM |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service, Cibola National Forest |
The Bear Mountains are a cool mountain range in New Mexico. They are located just north of the small village of Magdalena. These mountains are part of the Cibola National Forest, managed by the U.S. Forest Service. They are also close to the famous Very Large Array, which is a huge group of radio telescopes.
You might wonder why they are called the Bear Mountains! Often, places named "bear" in New Mexico got their name because someone had a memorable meeting with a bear there. Today, black bears still live in these mountains. Long ago, grizzly bears also roamed this area.
Discovering the Past: History of the Bear Mountains
People have lived in the Bear Mountains area for a very long time. Scientists have found signs that humans were here as far back as 14,000 years ago! This was during the time of the Paleo-Indians, who were some of the first people to live in North America. They even saw huge animals like mammoths, which are now extinct.
Later, the Apache people lived in and controlled much of this region. They were here from the 1600s until the late 1800s.
Fun Things to Do: Recreation in the Mountains
The Bear Mountains are a great place for outdoor adventures!
- Stargazing: Because there isn't much light pollution, the night sky here is incredibly dark. This makes it perfect for seeing tons of stars and even the Milky Way!
- Hiking and Backpacking: You can explore many trails on foot. It's a wonderful way to see the beautiful scenery.
- Camping: If you love spending a night under the stars, there are places to camp.
- Hunting: Some people come here for hunting, following local rules.
- Horseback Riding: The trails are also open for horseback riding.
- Birdwatching: Many different kinds of birds live here, especially near the springs. This makes the Bear Mountains a popular spot for birdwatchers.
Nature's Home: What Lives Here?
The Bear Mountains have different types of plants and animals because the elevation changes. As you go higher, the plants change!
- Plants: You can find scrubland, areas with pinyon and juniper trees, and patches of Gambel oak and mountain mahogany. There are also grassy areas with different kinds of grasses like black grama and sideoats grama. You might also see cool desert plants like sotol, cholla, yucca, and Apache plume.
- Animals: The mountains are home to many animals. Keep an eye out for:
- Mountain lions
- Pronghorn (a super fast animal!)
- Mule deer
- Black bears
- Coyotes
- Many different kinds of birds
- Wildlife in the Bear Mountains
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A black bear in Cibola National Forest. Photo: US Forest Service.
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A mountain lion in the Cibola National Forest. Photo: US Forest Service.
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An elk. Photo: US Forest Service.
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Pronghorn are found in the Bear Mountains.
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A mule deer in New Mexico. Photo: Shanthanu Bhardwaj
