Addressing Local Issues with Wildlife

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 the winter months:

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

Winter feeding of mule deer can lead to disease transmission, predation, and other negative effects.

Human compassion makes people want to help mule deer with winter-feeding programs. Winter feeding of mule deer creates artificially high concentrations of animals, leading to increased risks, including disease transmission and predation. Human disturbance can reduce a mule deer's body condition and increase their energy use, which can impact their survival and reproduction. Winter-feeding also has the potential to disrupt both winter foraging activities and migratory patterns. Unlike elk, mule deer are highly selective foragers, at least in part, due to their specialized digestive system. Winter-fed mule deer often die with full stomachs due to their inability to adapt to rapid changes in type and abundance of feed.  

As mule deer learn the locations of feeding stations, they continue to visit these sites, may fail to recognize the need for migration, and then share the information with each successive year’s offspring. Winter-feeding locations generate artificially high animal densities at feeding sites. These high densities of animals provide ideal opportunities for the transmission of diseases and parasites.  Winter feeding in areas highly populated by humans may create significant liability issues in terms of attracting predatory animals such as mountain lions, and can attract deer into high traffic areas, causing an increase in vehicle accidents. 

Both proponents and opponents of winter feeding believe they have the deer’s best interest in mind. We must focus on the sustainability of the mule deer population for generations to come – not just one season. Changing nature by winter feeding is a complex matter involving numerous issues. At best, winter feed of mule deer is only successful in making people who are compassionate about wildlife feel better and seldom are any benefits of winter feeding realized.

Mule deer have several strategies for surviving the winter, including:

Conserving energy - Mule deer limit their movement and physical activity to conserve energy. 

Finding shelter - Mule deer seek shelter from the wind and cold in thickets, under evergreen trees, and in other areas with lots of vegetation. They also look for areas with snow that's not too deep. 

Migrating - Mule deer may migrate to a "winter range" or "deeryard" that offers protection from the elements, good browse, and thermal cover. 

Adapting their diet - Mule deer may eat twigs, bark, and other woody plants when their preferred food sources are scarce. They also use their antlers to brush away snow from their food sources. 

Withstanding cold temperatures - Mule deer are well-adapted to cold climates and can withstand temperatures as low as -40°F. Their thick fur helps insulate them. 

Learn more about Understanding Mule Deer and Winter Feeding. Visit the Living with Wildlife website to learn more about the animals of the Pajarito Plateau.

Why we don't want to feed the deer: A Three-Part Series

Part 1: Does the forest support the deer population following a wildfire?

The natural pattern of recovery after a wildfire is referred to as “ecological succession.” This is the process whereby the land, plants, and wildlife move through various ecological stages to return to a state of relative stability. It’s like hitting the “reset” button on the life cycle of a forest.

Low-intensity fires burn close to the ground, “cleaning” and thinning the forest by removing thick and flammable vegetation from the forest floor. High-severity fires burn with high heat, climb into and remove the tree canopy, and can scorch the soil and tree roots, causing a more severe impact on vegetation and wildlife. More light reaches the forest floor post-fire, and fire-adapted plants regenerate.

After a fire, burned forests can be lush with shrubs and other vegetation that deer favor as summer forage. Deer generally prefer burned areas for about 20 years post-fire, which is the time it takes for the forest to move beyond the initial regrowth stage. Burns can create a win-win for deer: more food and less risk of being detected by a predator.

To learn more about wildfire in the Jemez Mountains and its impact on the ecosystem, visit the Valles Caldera Wildland Fire webpage.

Part 2: Jemez Mountain forest restoration, wildfire, and habitat selection by female mule deer

A brief history and the necessary response...

Decades of fire suppression, logging, and overgrazing have led to increased densities of small-diameter trees which have been associated with decreases in biodiversity, reduced habitat quality for wildlife species, degraded foraging conditions for ungulates [such as mule deer, elk, and sheep], and more frequent and severe wildfires. In response, land managers are implementing forest restoration treatments using prescribed fire and thinning to mitigate the risk of catastrophic wildfires and improve habitat conditions for a variety of wildlife species.

[source: Science Direct - link below]

Studies and observations...

In 2022, eleven years after the Las Conchas Fire, National Park Service staff began revisiting [burned] plots in the Valles Caldera National Preserve and graduate students from the University of New Mexico are analyzing the data to better understand post-fire ecological succession. This project is crucial in helping land managers understand the ecological role of fire and its long-term effects on the landscape in order to better preserve and restore this fire-adapted landscape.

source: NPS - NPS Article on Vegetation Recovery

Ecosystems are dynamic, with plants and animals responding to disturbances like wildfires and habitat loss. Researchers are monitoring the behaviors of four large mammal species - mountain lions, black bears, elk, and mule deer - to determine how ecosystem changes can impact their habitat preferences. How these large mammals respond to ecosystem changes over time will help park managers implement restoration treatments that mitigate wildfire risk and enhance habitats.

During this study, researchers captured and monitored 34 mule deer. The mule deer largely selected forest areas burned by prescribed fire and generally avoided wildfire-burned and thinned areas when they were [younger than] 5 years old. However, mule deer strongly selected thinned areas [at and over] 5 years old.

The next phase of the project is to analyze changes in habitat selection of these large mammals across a broad area of ecosystem disturbance. This analysis will help inform future decisions regarding forest management, wildfire mitigation, and habitat restoration at Valles Caldera National Preserve and beyond.

source: NPS - NPS Article on the Large Mammal Project

To learn more about research done by Science Direct in their Forest Ecology and Management study, as well as additional documented studies around wildfire in the Jemez Mountains and its impact on the ecosystem, mule deer, and black bears, click here: Science Direct Full Article

Part 3: What's wrong with feeding the deer?

Two important things to highlight have both ecological and physical consequences.

Deer support a healthy ecosystem…

Well-intentioned people will feed mule deer, under the assumption it will ensure their survival out of concern for lack of food sources. Unfortunately, feeding of any kind causes more harm than good to mule deer and only furthers their decline. Mule deer are adapted to their environment and specifically to the plants they rely on to survive. Throughout the summer they eat highly nutritious plants to build up their fat stores. Through the winter they eat less overall and transition to eating woody plants that are less nutritious while they utilize their fat stores for energy and survival.

Deer are browsers and will feed on tree bark, shrubs, grasses, forbs, flowers, and other nutrient-rich plant materials. Some of these plants rely on animals like deer and won’t germinate unless they pass through the digestive tract of an animal. The deer go to where food is readily available, which in a healthy ecosystem is the forest that provides them the food and nutrients they need. When fed by humans, deer will become lazy and stop foraging for food and doing their part in the life cycle of these plants, causing them to dwindle and become scarce. This negatively impacts the forest's healthy ecosystem and how it supports all the wildlife of the forest.

Deer have specialized digestive tracks…

Unlike elk, mule deer are highly selective foragers due to their specialized digestive system. Mule deer digestive systems contain specific bacteria that help break down only the plants they are meant to eat and are adapted to. The bacteria adjust slowly to match their diet through each season, and in the winter their gut contains the appropriate bacteria to digest only their winter diet of woody materials.

Any human-provided food sources, including hay, apples, corn, etc., are simply not digestible and cause an abundance of lactic acid, acidosis, dehydration, and ultimately death. Fed mule deer often die from starvation with full stomachs of food they cannot digest.

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.

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.

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.

Skunk Activity in Los Alamos...

Skunks are common in Los Alamos County, and are most active during mating season in February and March, especially at night, dawn, and dusk. They can be a nuisance when they dig holes or burrow under buildings. Remove attractants around houses to decrease the likelihood of an unpleasant skunk encounter: secure trash, cover window wells, and feed pets indoors. Find more tips regarding how to deal with skunks on the Addressing Issues page.

It is more likely you will smell a skunk than see one. Persistent, faint musky smells under a building or woodpile may suggest that a skunk has taken up residence. You may find small, shallow holes in the lawn, similar to those made by squirrels, which are a result of a skunk foraging for grubs. Occasionally, you may even find plants knocked over or damage to the lower leaves or ears of ripening garden crops, including corn. You should look for these additional clues; foxes also have their own musky scent that may cause misidentification.

Occasional skunk sightings in a neighborhood are not a cause for alarm. Because skunks are generally easy-going, they will not intentionally bother people. In fact, skunks may benefit humans by eating many insects and rodents many regard as pests.

Warning Signs

Skunks use their powerful defense only when they or their young are threatened and cannot escape. Even then, they give ample warning that should be heeded—stamping front feet, a raised tail, hissing, short forward charges and twisting their hind end around in your direction. Spotted skunks will even contort into a characteristic handstand, rump in the air with eyes still fixed on the threat. Move away slowly and quietly. By nature, dogs tend to ignore these warnings, so it is important they be restrained for their own good.

What attracts skunks to your yard?

Habitat Modification

Skunks are opportunists at heart—they’re mainly attracted to easily accessible options like garbage and pet food left out at night, as well as convenient denning sites, such as wood and rock piles, elevated sheds, and openings under concrete slabs and porches and crawl spaces.

Preventive measures, such as removing attractants around houses, will decrease the likelihood of an unpleasant skunk encounter. This includes securing trash, covering window wells, feeding pets indoors, or if fed outdoors, removing food immediately after pets eat.

Skunks may also dig for grubs in the yard when wet soil conditions push insects close to the surface—their presence may be a sign of an overwatered lawn. Occasionally, however, a skunk may also wander into an open garage or shed, which is a compelling reason to secure all outbuildings.

Should I harass a skunk?

When it is safe to displace skunks, mild harassment can be very effective. This can be as simple as loosely repacking the den hole with leaves or straw or other material to see if the skunk gets the message and moves elsewhere. If they require more persuading, adding light and noise to make a dark and quiet denning space unattractive may help as well. Make sure the skunk is not close by before setting up the disturbances.

Can I use repellants?

Repellants may also be effective in skunk deterrence. Mild repellents, such as used kitty litter, can be placed near or inside the den to one side so the skunk has to pass them to get out; commercial or homemade capsaicin or castor oil repellents may also be tried.

What if I find a skunk in my garage?

Skunks who have wandered into a garage can simply be allowed to wander back out by making sure the door is open before dusk. Skunks are nocturnally active, so opening the door at dusk and closing it later in the evening is likely to be a solution to this problem.

It is important to make sure the skunk has not been coming and going for long enough to have established a den and given birth, and that any accessible foods (bags of bird seed, for example) have been moved and secured in tightly sealed containers.

Removing a skunk from a window well

It is not uncommon for skunks, with their climbing abilities and weak eyesight, to become trapped in a window well or similarly deep pit. If this happens, provide a means of escape. Place a rough board (or one with cleats, carpet, toweling, chicken wire or other material to give the animal traction) that is long enough to serve as a ramp out of the well. Skunks are poor climbers, so the board should lean no steeper than a 45-degree angle. Trying to stay out of sight of the skunk, slowly and carefully lower the board. If possible, a second person with a vantage point high enough to see the skunk (perhaps from an upstairs window) can warn of any signs of agitation. Another method of placing the board is to tie it to the end of a long pole and lower it by holding the opposite end of the pole. Once the board is placed, keep people and pets away from the area until nightfall, when the skunk should leave.

How can I neutralize skunk odors?

The traditional remedy for removing the smell of skunk spray is a tomato juice bath. However, tomato juice, in conjunction with vinegar, only serves to reduce the stench, as it doesn’t neutralize the molecules that make skunk spray particularly pungent. Here’s a particularly effective remedy that’s safe for dogs and cats, as well as humans:

Mix together:

• 1 quart of 3-% hydrogen peroxide
• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 1 teaspoon liquid dishwashing soap

Wearing rubber gloves, wash with this solution immediately after the spraying occurs. DO NOT get the solution in eyes. (If you don't have peroxide, baking soda, and liquid soap on hand, use vinegar diluted with water.) 

CAUTION: Do NOT store this mixture or make it ahead of time, as the mixture could explode if left in a bottle.

Rub the mixture all over and scrub deep to neutralize the odor. However, if you’re washing your dog or cat, don’t leave the mixture on longer than you have to as peroxide can bleach fur. Rinse the solution off thoroughly, and the smell should be gone.

Do skunks have rabies?

The skunk is one of four wild animals (including the fox, raccoon and bat) considered to be primary carriers of the rabies virus and is, therefore, classified as a rabies vector species. Skunks have also been known to carry leptospirosis.

Even though skunks are mostly active at night, they sometimes look for food by day—particularly in the spring, when they have young and may be extra hungry. Don’t be concerned if you see an adult skunk in the daytime unless they are also showing abnormal behaviors:

• Limb paralysis
• Circling
• Disorientation, staggering
• Boldness or unprovoked aggression
• Uncharacteristic tameness

Don’t approach the skunk yourself. Call animal control for assistance - 505-662-8222.