• The dunes in soft light

    White Sands

    National Monument New Mexico

  • Closures and Missile Tests

    Upcoming Missile Tests: Friday-Saturday, April 27-28 -- Missile test scheduled on both mornings. Highway 70 will be blocked at Red & Yellow checkpoints. No backcountry camping on Thursday and Friday, April 26 & 27. More »

  • High Winds

    We are in our windy season, so please be aware of possible high winds.

  • Backcountry Camping

    There will be no backcountry camping available the night of Saturday, April 7, 2012.

Invasive Species

Invasive species, or non-native plants or animals that have been introduced into an area, are often very detrimental to native plants, animals and ecosystems. At White Sands National Monument, various measures have been devised to help reduce the effect these organisms have on the park's delicate ecosystem.

 

Oryx
A native of the Kalahari Desert, the African oryx, or gemsbok (Oryx gazella), is a large antelope that now lives in southern New Mexico.

 

Tamarisk
Introduced as an ornamental plant from Asia in the late 1800s, the Tamarisk, or Salt Cedar, has become a problem for many areas throughout New Mexico.

 

African Rue
African Rue was first brought to the United States for its use in making dyes. Due to its aggressive growth, it has since been classified as an invasive species.

Did You Know?

Photo of kangaroo rat

Because there is virtually no fresh water within the White sands dunefield, animals that live in the dunes must get almost all their water solely from the food they eat. Desert animals have evolved many ways of conserving moisture. The kangaroo rat eats only dry seeds and never drinks water.