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Bandelier National Monumenttarantula
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Bandelier National Monument
October
short-horned lizard
photo by sally king
Lizards remain active in October when the days are warm.
THE NORM
Days are warm but nights are cool to cold.  The first snow of the season may fall by month's end.  This is usually an excellent time for hiking in the park's backcountry.  Fall color starts in the high country and drops to the lower canyons by mid to late month.  Although there is only a little red and no orange, gold is the color of the fall here and it is done very, very well.  Tarantulas may be seen crossing roadways or trails.  Be careful not to accidentally (or purposely) end their precarious search for a mate by running them over or stepping on them.  Reptiles are also very active on these final warm days trying to fatten themselves up for the cold winter ahead. Visitation remains high during the first part of the month as many visitors and buses arrive from Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque.  After Balloon Fiesta visitation drops off sharply and remains slow but steady the rest of the month. 
Pinon cone with nuts  

Did You Know?
Pinon nuts are rich in vitamins, flavor, and calories (3,000 per pound). Although produced in abundance only every 7 to 10 years, these nuts were a valuable native food source for the Ancestral Pueblo people.
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Last Updated: February 18, 2008 at 17:25 EST