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Source: https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/q/3914
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

<p>I'm planning a hike in the White Mountains of California; see also <a href="https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/q/3634/566">this related question</a>.  So far, all my hiking have either been day hikes in the densely populated hikes, or treks for up to three weeks in the mountains of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A1pmi_%28area%29" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Sápmi</a> (where the only significant risks are river crossings and getting lost).  Hiking in desert mountains in spring will certainly be a different experience, requiring additional considerations.</p>

<p>The question <em><a href="https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/q/226/566">As an experienced backpacker in the Eastern US, what should I know before hiking in the Western US?</a></em> inquires what an eastern US backpacker should know in the western US, and probably all those points apply to me as well (<em>although coming from Europe, there may be points an eastern-US backpacker would be aware of, but not me...</em>).  An answer raises three points: Altitude, Wildlife, and Weather.  The altitude and wildlife points clearly apply directly to me.  My question is specifically about wildlife.  Quoting <a href="https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/a/263/566">from the answer</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Be aware of what [wildlife] each region has and how to identify and deal with them</p>
</blockquote>

<p><a href="http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/wildView?WID=754" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Wilderness.net describes the White Mountains</a>, including one sentence about wildlife:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The variety of steep terrain, rolling plateaus, and deep canyons makes for excellent habitat for desert bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope and mule deer</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Considering backpacking practices, do I need to take any specific consideration of those animals?  Are there other animals that I need to take into consideration, such as bears or pumas?  Do they live in the desert at all?</p>

<p><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/YhpvV.jpg" alt="pronghorn antelopes"><br>
<sup>I may be naive not to expect any dangers from these pronghorn antelopes. Source: <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pronghorn_run_-_Flickr_-_USDAgov.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer">USDA via Wikimedia Commons</a></sup></p>