We may rarely see them, but mammals are moving through the landscape around us. A fox slips quietly through the night. A ringtail climbs along rocks and branches, searching for food. Bats take to the sky after sunset, while rodents and other small mammals forage among the vegetation and find shelter in the arroyo. Most are active when we are not, leaving behind only tracks, scat, or other clues that reveal their presence.

These animals are part of a complex web of life. Some disperse seeds, bats help control insect populations, and predators such as foxes help keep populations of smaller animals in balance. Each has a role in maintaining the diversity and resilience of the natural community.

For mammals living within and around a growing city, stream corridors can be especially important. Las Cachinches forms a ribbon through the urban landscape, connecting patches of vegetation and open space that might otherwise be isolated. Wildlife can follow these corridors in search of food, water, shelter, mates, and new territory. These connections also help populations remain genetically diverse and species survive as the landscape around them changes.

Whether passing through or making a home here, mammals need places where they can find food, water, cover, and refuge. Trees, shrubs, vegetation, rocky spaces, and healthy insect life all contribute to habitat, while darkness and quiet give nocturnal animals the opportunity to move and feed with less disturbance.

Most of these neighbors will remain hidden from us. But their nighttime journeys remind us that Las Cachinches is more than a stream through the city. It is a pathway through a larger web of life—connecting habitat, wildlife, and the landscapes beyond.

ARTIST:  Cecilia Herrera Robles

Cesilia Herrera Robles (b. 1992) is a Mexican visual artist born in Buena Park, California, and based between San Miguel de Allende and Querétaro. Influenced by nature, insects, and the female figure, her work draws on an abstract and surreal visual language to explore themes of migration, feminism, and memory.

Her multidisciplinary practice encompasses photography, printmaking, drawing, and mixed-media painting, serving as a sensitive chronicle of personal and social experiences within contexts of inequality. A graduate of the University of Guanajuato, she has participated in group exhibitions of printmaking, photography, and drawing, as well as the international Mini Print competition in Argentina.

She currently combines teaching with her artistic practice and the development of social projects in collaboration with the municipality of San Miguel de Allende, promoting art as a tool for reflection and social transformation.

 Instagram : @ces.nube
 Facebook: Cesilia Herrera

ASSISTANT MURALIST

From an early age, I developed a love for the arts, especially drawing and painting. As long as I can remember, I have practiced both whenever I could. At 17, I began focusing on improving my drawing skills, and by 19, I discovered muralism as a profession and immersed myself in that world. Since then, I have collaborated on mural projects in places such as Dolores Hidalgo C.I.N. and San Miguel de Allende.

I enjoy creating illustrations that express my emotions and my way of seeing life. I am currently developing my own artistic identity through my work. I love sharing my art with others and surrounding myself with artists who inspire one another and grow together.

I am originally from San Felipe, Guanajuato. Although I have found greater opportunities for artistic growth in other cities thanks to the people around me, I am deeply grateful to every place that has welcomed me so warmly.

I have known Ces for nearly three years, although we only had the opportunity to meet in person through this event. I am deeply grateful to her for inviting me and for placing her trust in me.

ARTIST STATEMENT

"Guardians": Life in the Shadows

When we think of San Miguel de Allende, we often reflect on its architecture, traditions, and culture. Yet alongside our own history exists another living community that shares our hills, valleys, and open spaces: wildlife. 

This mural was created to give a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves, calling for empathy and respect for wildlife. It features two iconic mammals of our region: the gray fox and the ringtail cat.

These animals are not intruders—they are the true guardians of our landscapes.

The gray fox helps control rodent populations and disperses seeds that regenerate native vegetation. The ringtail, with its distinctive banded tail and nocturnal habits, is a natural regulator of insects and other small animal populations.

Tragically, these are also two of the species most frequently affected by poisoning and hunting in our region. Too often, misinformation, unfounded fears, or simple cruelty lead people to use poisons or deliberately kill wildlife. What is not always recognized is the chain reaction that follows: a poisoned animal suffers a slow death while also contaminating the soil, water, and other predators—or even pets—that come into contact with it.

Protecting our native mammals means protecting our own environment. San Miguel does not belong only to us; it is also the home we share with these remarkable creatures.

Through the colors and forms of this mural, I invite you to reflect. We do not need to fear these animals—we need to learn how to coexist with them. Let us protect the gray fox, the ringtail, and all the mammals that help keep the natural balance of our land alive.

MURAL SPONSORS