Remove potential food sources and structure landscaping to make your yard less attractive and harder for mountain lions and other predators to hide. Courtesy/LAC

COUNTY News:

Some challenges facing the Los Alamos County community include interactions with large predators, why it is important not to feed the deer, how wildfire impacts wildlife, and the risks of animals in the roadway.

These and other important topics are addressed to help the community learn how to live with wildlife safely.

Preventing Mountain Lion Encounters in Winter

• Los Alamos County is home to several large predators, including the mountain lion. Mountain lions are most active at dusk and dawn. They are typically more energetic in the cooler months, which is driven by their instinct to hunt and eat.

Here are some important tips to remember when living in mountain lion country during winter:

• Make your yard less attractive: Remove potential food sources and structure your landscape to make it harder for predators to hide.
• Supervise children: Don’t leave children alone. Keep children inside before dawn and make sure they are home before dusk.
• Secure pets: Don’t leave pets outside unattended, especially at night. If you must let them out, keep them on a leash or in a fully enclosed or supervised area, and don’t leave them out for long periods of time.
• Install outdoor lighting: Install outdoor lighting, preferably with motion sensors to illuminate pathways and areas you walk.
• Stay on trails: When out on the trails, stay on the path to protect the habitat and for your safety, in case large predators are in the area.
• Avoid carcasses: Report dead animals to the NM Game and Fish Officer – (505) 487-0961.
• Be aware of your surroundings: If you encounter a mountain lion, stay calm, make noise, and back away slowly. Avoid running, which could trigger the animal’s attack instinct.
• Make yourself appear large: Spread out your jacket behind your head and body, or extend your arms.
• Fight back if attacked: Use any handy weapons including backpacks, sticks, rocks, and even your bare hands.

Never Feed the Wildlife

Oh, look at that cute squirrel! He’s coming closer…giving him a little snack couldn’t hurt, right? Wrong. While a squirrel might look cute munching on our trail mix – feeding wild animals hurts them.

Did you know feeding wildlife can have negative impacts on an entire ecosystem?

It’s not just a few peanuts. You may have the best intentions when you want to share food with the squirrels and deer, but feeding wildlife is dangerous. Human foods are not healthy for wild animals. Animals that eat our snacks can get full off the wrong foods and stop eating the nutrients they need to survive. They can stop hunting, foraging, or scavenging as they would naturally. They literally want to get chips or die trying. 

Depending on humans for food is called food conditioning. Food conditioning is dangerous for animals because it can lead to serious consequences like getting sick, starving, or even having to be killed if they become too aggressive. Animals can lose their fear of people when they get used to eating our food. They may beg, steal, or even rip into your belongings and home if you don’t give it to them. Because they approach you (and because they’re so cute!) people might think the animals are tame like our pets at home, but they are still wild creatures. If the animal feels threatened for any reason, it could bite, kick, charge, or attack you.

Let them stick to their natural diet. Feeding wildlife isn’t safe for the animals or for you.

What You Can Do

Be a smart wildlife watcher and help keep wildlife wild.

Never feed the wildlife

• Store your food and stash your trash. You may unintentionally feed wildlife by leaving trash or crumbs behind. Be sure to clean up after yourself after meals and practice Leave No Trace principles.
• Give the animals room. Always keep a safe distance when watching wildlife.
• Want more wildlife viewing tips? Learn the 7 ways to safely watch wildlife.
• Learn more about the risks to wildlife from people.
• Visit the National Park Service “Did You Know” article to learn more: https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/idkt_feedingwildlife.htm

The Risk of Rabies…

The rabies virus is usually transmitted through a bite or scratches. Animals most likely to transmit rabies include bats, coyotes, foxes, raccoons and skunks. People are usually exposed to rabies by coming into contact with wild animals carrying the virus or through their pets, if they’ve encountered a rabid animal.

Watch for wildlife on the roadways during the winter months…As the temperature drops, the days are getting shorter, and more vehicles will be on the road at times when wildlife, including larger mammals, are most active: dusk and dawn.Wildlife in roadways can be dangerous for both motorists and animals. Even smaller animals, such as cottontails and jackrabbits, can prove to be hazardous as motorists break or swerve to avoid a collision.

Follow these simple tips and information that can help reduce the chances of a potentially dangerous collision: 

• Slow down and look for movement. This simple step can help motorists avoid a potential disaster. Slowing down doesn’t just help avoid a collision; it can reduce the impact in the event a large animal is hit.
• Avoid other distractions within the car, such as texting. Distractions increase the risk of a collision with unexpected wildlife in the roadway.
• Watch for herd animals. Drivers should also note that when one herd animal, such as deer, is spotted, there may be more in the area.
• Expect the unexpected. Male deer and elk behavior can be unpredictable during the rut. They may dart straight out in the road. Some of the best forage can be found alongside roadways, especially during times of drought or seasonal green-up, making it particularly attractive to numerous animals. This increases the likelihood of collisions with wildlife.
• Remember, the easy path is the plowed one. Once winter weather sets in, elk are often on roads because it’s easier to travel and burns less energy than walking through snow. Elk are more likely to move to areas where snow is plowed.

Avoiding the Risk of Rabies…

Keep wildlife wild by keeping your distance. Never approach injured animals; instead, contact animal control for assistance at 505.662.8222, when needed.

Keep pets up to date on their rabies vaccines, and keep them away from wild animals and unfamiliar pets as much as possible.

Rabies in humans is completely preventable. Seek medical help right away if you have an encounter
with a rabid animal or one that seems sick or injured.