Small animal tracks in the gypsum sand, in White Sands National Monument, New Mexico.

The deserts of White Sands New Mexico may look barren, but they teem with life. If you are there in the heat of day, you will see almost nothing. Maybe a few bugs, if you’re lucky. Most of the creatures are hiding in a burrow, to escape the intense heat and sun. As an aside, the animals don’t have to burrow very deep, because the gypsum sand stays remarkably cool to the touch! But when night comes, the area becomes far more active. If you arrive at dawn, you can catch a glimpse of the normally-hidden wildlife, even if it’s just their tracks in the sand. But you have to arrive early, because they soon get hidden by the wind and multitudes of trudging tourists.

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