Submitted by the Las Placitas Association
A sad announcement:
We are devastated to announce the untimely death of our fearless leader, Sandra Johnson. Longtime LPA president, founder and benefactor of Placitas Wild, member of Placitas Community Library art committee, skilled silversmith and member of Wild Hearts Gallery. Sandy was our friend and our inspiration. No services are planned but there will be a fundraiser in her honor for Placitas Wild in the fall.
Living with Wildlife:
The number of bear encounters have increased significantly this fall as bears are finding little to eat in the mountains. Black bears (which can be honey-colored, blond, brown, cinnamon or black) are not very aggressive and seeing one in the wild can be a memorable experience. There is currently at least one black bear and a cougar in east Placitas but chances are you will never see either. Just know they are there and that it is possible to coexist. That bear may just be passing through; give it space. That cougar following you may just be curious, not unlike your house cat. Not every encounter is dangerous but unless you have been around wildlife enough to understand their body language, the best thing is to try to avoid the encounter at all.
Most conflicts between people and bears can be traced to human food, garbage, pet food, bird seed and other attractants. In late summer and fall, bears are driven to eat and put on pounds in preparation for hibernation (actually they enter torpor). If a bear doesn’t find abundant food in your neighborhood, it will move on.
Much of New Mexico, including Placitas, is home to mountain lions who are found in areas of piñon pine, juniper, mountain mahogany, ponderosa pine and oak. Lions generally are most abundant in areas with plentiful deer and there have been numerous deer sightings in Placitas this year. They hunt mostly at dawn and dusk so avoiding these times of day is the easiest way to avoid an encounter.
Be prepared to cross paths with wildlife as you enjoy our trails and be SMART!
- Stop! Do not run! If you run, the animal may consider you prey and chase you.
- Make yourself look big! Put your hands over your head or pull your jacket up over your head. Look as big as you can so the animal thinks that you are too tough to mess with.
- Announce firmly and loudly, “Leave me Alone!” This lets the animal know you are a person, and it lets people around you know that you may be in trouble. Be prepared to fight back if attacked.
- Retreat by backing away slowly. Do not turn your back to the animal.
- Tell others about your encounter to increase their awareness in the area.