What kinds of invasive species can you find in New Mexico?

Animals that are not native can cause many problems. They put a lot of pressure on native species as they compete for food, territories, and nesting areas.

Below, you will learn about an array of different invasive creatures, along with the myriad of problems they cause!

10 Invasive Animals Found in New Mexico:

Just a quick note: you won’t find any insects or fish below. Those articles are coming soon! 🙂

#1. Rock Pigeon

Columba livia

These invasive birds are common in New Mexico but are almost exclusively found in urban areas. Rock Pigeons are what everyone refers to as “pigeons.” You have probably seen them gathering in huge flocks in city parks, hoping to get tossed some birdseed or leftover food.

The typical pigeon has a gray back, a blue-gray head, and two black wing bars. In addition, look for a green and purple iridescence around their necks!

Rock Pigeon Range Map

Love them or hate them, Rock Pigeons have been associated with humans for a long time! Some Egyptian hieroglyphics suggest that people started domesticating them over 5,000 years ago. But, interestingly, scientists aren’t even sure where their original range occurs!

#2. Domestic Cat

Felis catus

Can be a wide range of colors, sizes, shapes, and fur lengths.
Selected mutations observed in many pet cats, such as folded ears, munchkin legs, or flattened faces, are not commonly seen among domestic cats successfully living feral.

Sadly, domestic cats are very damaging to the ecosystems in New Mexico where they are introduced. It has only been in the last century or so that cats have become pets that stay indoors.

It is estimated that these invasive animals kill over 1 billion birds and 6 billion other small animals annually. Feral cats that live and breed away from the care of humans are the most prolific hunters.

As you can imagine, this issue is hotly debated due to the love people have for their pet cats. Some experts think that trap-neuter-return programs are key to curbing the problem of feral cats. At the same time, others are huge proponents of NEVER letting your cat outside.

#3. European Starling

Sturnus vulgaris

They are about the size of an American Robin. Their plumage is black and appears to be shiny.
Breeding adults are darker black and have a green-purple tint.
In winter, starlings lose their glossiness, their beaks become darker, and they develop white spots over their bodies.

Despite being common, European Starlings are an invasive species in New Mexico.

Back in 1890, one hundred starlings were brought over from Europe and released in New York City’s Central Park. The man responsible (Eugene Schieffelin) had a mission to introduce all of the birds mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays to North America.

European Starling Range Map

The rest is history as starlings easily conquered the continent, along the way out-competing many of our beautiful native birds. Their ability to adapt to human development and eat almost anything is uncanny to virtually no other species.

Here’s something amazing about these non-native birds:

It’s the magical way they travel in flocks, called murmurations. Check out the video below because it’s mesmerizing. 🙂

#4. Eurasian Collared-Dove

Streptopelia decaocto

A mostly sandy gray bird with a long, square-tipped tail.
As the name suggests, look for a black collar on the back of the neck.

Interestingly, these birds are invasive to New Mexico.

Unfortunately, somebody introduced Eurasian Collared-Doves to the Bahamas in the 1970s, and since then, they have rapidly spread. In fact, their population is still spreading!

Eurasian Collared-Dove Range Map

One of the reasons these birds colonized here so quickly is due to their comfort level with humans. They have thrived being around bird feeders and in urban and suburban areas. It’s common to see them on the ground or platform feeders eating grains and seeds.

How do you tell them apart from Mourning Doves?

At first glance, Eurasian Collared-Doves look very similar to the native Mourning Dove. Here’s how to tell them apart:

Mourning Doves are smaller and have black dots on their wings.

Eurasian Collared-Doves are larger and have a black crescent around their neck.

#5. House Sparrow

Passer domesticus

House Sparrows are an invasive species that originated from the Middle East. But now they are one of the most widespread birds in New Mexico (and the world)!

House Sparrows owe their success to their ability to adapt and live near humans. Because of this, they are almost always found in urban and suburban areas.

Range Map – House Sparrow

House Sparrows can be heard across the entire planet. Pay attention the next time you’re watching the news in another country. Listen for a simple song that includes lots of “cheep” notes.

#6. House Mouse

Mus musculus

The tails are hairless and can be as long as their bodies.
House Mice are smaller and lighter built than rats.
They usually have light brown fur and large round ears compared to their heads, which give them a cute look.

These invasive rodents originated in Asia but can now be found in New Mexico. House Mice arrived in North America on ships in the 1600s and quickly multiplied.

Mice have dispersed across the planet incredibly successfully, second perhaps only to humans. The biggest key to their success is their ability to adapt their behavior quickly and breed prolifically.

House Mouse Range Map

Native range (dark red). Introduced (light red) Attribution: Osado, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Salmonella and parasites are the most prevalent illnesses that mice transmit to humans by contaminating food. However, this risk has been greatly reduced through modern food management techniques in the USA.

House Mice also greatly impact the ecosystems that they invade. They are omnivorous and will devour plants and target animal species that have not adapted to fighting them off.

Fascinatingly, House Mice also cause the decline of native species by bolstering the health of predators through seasons when other prey would have been hard to find. By becoming prey themselves, the mice inflate the populations of predators year-round.

#7. Greylag Goose

Anser anser

Greylag Geese are a soft, warm gray-brown.
Their feathers are rimmed with narrow white edges, which gives them a delicate barred pattern over their wings, chest, and sides.
The legs are pink, while their bills are bright orange.

Greylag Geese are NOT native to New Mexico!

These birds are found naturally across Europe and Asia, where they are very common and have a huge natural range.

Interestingly, Greylag Geese gave rise to almost all common domesticated goose breeds.

Domesticated Greylag Geese can commonly be seen on farms, estates, and in zoological collections. But, occasionally, escaped birds may flourish as feral populations.

Greylag Geese are very social animals. They will almost always be found in flocks, ranging from a few birds to thousands of animals. When flying, flocks adopt the classic V-shape flight formation. Play the video to see them in action!

#8. Ring-necked Pheasant

Phasianus colchicus

Males have tawny bodies, shiny green heads with red wattles, and a white ring at the base of the neck.
Females are smaller and are tawny brown all over, with dark brown patterning.
Both have extended tail feathers, though males are longer.

Ring-necked pheasants are eye-catching birds that are native to Asia. They are usually found in woodlands and grasslands.

These birds were intentionally imported and introduced to the USA in 1881. In fact, they have been here so long that most people have no idea that Ring-necked Pheasants are not native to New Mexico!

Ring-necked Pheasant Native and Introduced Range Map

Native range (purple). Introduced range (pink). Attribution: Cephas, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Ring-necked Pheasants cause issues for native ecosystems in several ways. First, their breeding success and population growth put a strain on habitat and food availability. Ring-necked Pheasants outcompete native birds for limited resources. Pheasants can even be openly aggressive towards other birds.

Second, the breeding behavior of Ring-necked pheasants leads to them parasitizing nests, directly causing the mortality of native hatchlings. Pheasants nest on the ground, close to other species. Sometimes, they lay their eggs in the nests of other birds.

#9. Mediterranean House Gecko

Hemidactylus turcicus

1.5 to 2.5 inches long.
The pupils are vertical, and the eyes are large and round with immovable eyelids.
This species has two color phases for camouflage.
- Pale phase: the coloring is light pink to pale yellow or white with brown or gray blotches.
- Dark phase: the coloring darkens to gray or brown, obscuring the blotches on the back.

You might be surprised that this gecko is NOT native to New Mexico! The Mediterranean House Gecko was introduced via imported plants carrying their egg clutches. They’re adaptable to so many environments that their population quickly outpaced any of our native geckos!

Mediterranean House Geckos are nocturnal, but this won’t stop you from being able to find them. They’re considered an “urbanized” species, which means they’re just as happy to live inside your house as they are in the wild!

Virginia Herpetological Society

In addition to being comfortable around humans, Mediterranean House Geckos are some of the most vocal lizards around. The mating call of males is a series of clicks, and they frequently make a squeaking noise if threatened.

#10. Barbary Sheep

Ammotragus lervia

Also called Aoudads.

They best resemble large, brown goats.
Short brown hair, long necks, and agile, muscular bodies.
They have large horns curling back from their heads and long hairy patches on their chests.

Barbary Sheep are native to Northern Africa. They are especially well adapted to living in arid regions. For example, they don’t have to drink and can take all of their hydration needs from the food they eat.

Barbary Sheep were intentionally introduced to areas of the USA in the 1950s to become exotic game for people to hunt in parks and estates. However, they easily outcompeted native species for resources and proliferated quickly. These invasive animals adapted well to the arid, rocky deserts of New Mexico.

The primary issue that Barbary Sheep cause in New Mexico is outcompeting the native Desert Bighorn. Barbary Sheep reproduce quickly and are very hardy, suffering low mortalities. They are also prolific grazers.

Secondly, Barbary Sheep appear to have been carrying and transmitting mycoplasma ovipneumoniae to the native Bighorn sheep. This bacterial infection is often fatal for Bighorn Sheep and has caused a large number of deaths.

10 INVASIVE Animals found in New Mexico! (2025)