Animals in Tepoztlán
Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. A rattlesnake on a woods trail.
In this article we will take a look at the local fauna, both wild and domestic. Humans and animals like living here because of the temperate climate. Due to the high elevation, the temperature is comfortable all year. And the volcanic-deposited soil is excellent for growing the plants they thrive on.
First, let's see a few of the animals in the wild. There are not many in the wooded mountains of this area. I'm not sure why. Too many humans? Too many dogs? Or is there another reason?
Wild Animals
The rattlesnake was a very rare find. After posting this photo on Facebook, one of my peeps said that they would not take a photo but immediately run down the mountain. I know that these are more afraid of humans than we are of them, and if not bothered, they just slither away. However, I had a friend who got bit by one in the States and wound up in the hospital. That was no joke.
Big black turkey vultures are very common at the higher altitudes, circling around on air currents looking for food, or perched on pine trees.
Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. Top: Turkey vulture perched on a pine high in the forested mountains, bottom: close up of the same.
Here is a distant relative of the rattlesnake, a lizard we saw at an archeological site. I guess they like boulders.
Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. A lizard on a boulder at a nearby archeological site.
Tepotzlán has a deer sanctuary to honor those that once populated the region. These are kept behind a fence. Children like to go into the enclosed area to feed them. To me it is sad to see these normally wild animals domesticated.
Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. A deer in the Deer Sanctuary
Outside the enclosure is a trail to an incredible natural area with a high cascade and another trail with petroglyphs and a lookout.
Here is the cat we met while leaving, near the parking lot:
Pets in Tepoztlán
I love this photo of the dog on a man's lap with his head on the table taken at a friend's retreat center.
Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. Dog in man's lap at Casa de la Vida Retreat Center.
In a previous article, the focus was pets in Tepoztlán, including the many problems with them and how this is handled.
For example, many pets live in the streets. It's warm here and owners and others feed them. But if they are not neutered, they reproduce, with the population ever increasing.
Other animals spend their whole lives behind gates or living on rooftops.
Here are some more cats:
Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. Upper left: At Cafe Mozart, lower right: a mural, others: unknown sources
Birds make nice pets, too:
Farm Animals
Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. Meet Molly, the baby pig out of a total of six living at Eli Sanctuary.
Eli Pig Sanctuary was founded in 2019 by Janis, a Mexican who is a vegan. She provided this as a refuge for pigs headed for the slaughterhouse. It is located in a remote area. Here is an article about it.
Here are a few videos I made while meeting some new friends on the road:
It's very common to see a herd of cattle blocking the road:
Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. A bunch of cows on a major local highway.
Geese make good guardians, like this one:
Let's not forget our insect friends (please make sure to turn on your audio for this one) :
A Totem Animal
In the Tepoztlán barrio (neighborhood) where I live, the toad (sapo) is the totem animal. It is seen all over, even in parades representing the barrio . Every barrio has its own totem animal.I think this is because our barrio has a lot of flowing water during the rainy season.
Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. The toad is incorporated with potable water taps
Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. This toad is part of a park sculpture complex
Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. King Toad mural near a stream through a park
If you enjoyed this article on the animals of Tepoztlán, why not come here and meet them in person? We can help . . .
