The landscape of Otero Mesa includes unique low-elevation mountains, mesas, hills, and canyons; ancient lava flows, craters, and cinder cones; and freshwater , streams, and springs. These wild lands represent a mix of landscape types, encompassing shrub covered desert, vast grasslands, riparian areas, oak, juniper, and pinyon woodlands. Cacti, yucca, and agave are common plants of the region. The plant diversity of this region supports a variety of reptile species and mammals include pronghorn, deer, javelina, bobcat, and coyotes, and even rare species such as desert bighorn sheep. The region supports both migrating and resident birds, including the rare Aplomado falcon.

Otero Mesa is not currently designated as Wilderness. However, the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance has surveyed the Greater Otero Mesa Area and identified over 520,000 acres suitable for Wilderness designation. But the current threat of full-scale oil and gas development, the Wilderness and much of the wildlife that live there will be lost forever.