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All caves in El Malpais National Monument are closed to recreational use.
This closure is due to a combination of factors including the outbreak of a fungal disease that is killing millions of bats. Read more at our Nature and Science page. More »
Mammals
A coyote rests in the winter sun. Dale Dombrowski, NPS Squirrels, mule deer, and elk are the most commonly encountered mammals in the monument. However, there are many other species often found during the course of a visit. They have all adapted to living in this unique environment, and many take advantage of the shelter provided by the numerous lava tube caves. Bats, flying mammals common at night and in the caves, are discussed on their own page.
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Did You Know?
La Vieja seems to have the visage of an elderly woman carved into it. From certain vantage points in El Malpais, La Vieja appears to stand in the lava flows, and may be responsible for the legends of a mission church out on the malpais. More...