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Saw several snakes on the roads last year, but not one in the yard. Never have seen a rattler but I know they are around. All our many critters here coexist and the warnings about too many snakes in Placitas are not justified.
Placitas is pretty much desert-like. Not a lot of water, not a lot of vegetation.
A knowledgeable person who lives in Placitas commented on my description. They said:
Quote:
That's one of the things I like most about Placitas is our year around green, albeit shrubbery green. The junipers/cedars give us a year around green that other parts of the area don't have. Granted we don't have the big Cottonwoods of the Bosque, but we get it 365 days.
Is it correct that there are a lot of snakes in Placitas?
There are snakes - both bullsnakes (which are good) and rattlesnakes (which are not). The bullsnakes keep the rattlers away, but aside from slightly different looking heads and the obvious rattles on the tail, they look similar.
The drought has made the snakes worse in the last few years - they are more aggressive than usual, which has been my experience in any drought.
I hike regularly and often in Placitas. Last May, 1 of my 2 dogs was bitten on the nose by a rattler I never saw. She must have stuck her nose in a hole or under a rock. The vet said that based on the bloodwork it was either a diamondback rattler, or a prarie rattler. The poor dogs' head swelled up like a balloon. She survived, but also had benefit of having had the rattlesnake vaccine now available for dogs, and getting her to a vet within the hour. I also had a friend in Placitas call me when her dog was bitten by a rattler that same summer. She wanted to know where to take her dog. That dog too, survived.
I have seen more than 1 bullsnake on our own 2 acres, but as I said, we like having those things around. I've only chased one away from our front steps once to prevent it from getting into the house. We've never had any snakes in our house.
There are all different income levels in Placitas - from "McMansions," to people stll living in buses out in the "sticks." Don't believe everything everyone tells you - remember, realtors like the higher priced real estate and buyers because of their commissions.
Last edited by Road-Runner; 03-06-2012 at 02:21 PM..
My observation of Placitas is that it is clearly for the wealthy. Dh and I are retired military and federal government. I went in to visit with the local Placitas real estate office and he sniffed, "Our houses begin at $500,000" as he looked me up and down. Placitas is indeed "special" in their own little way. At the convenience store, you'll find newspapers from New York City and other large eastern cities. New Mexicans living there? I don't think so.
Wow. I can't believe you'd say that.
I am from New Mexico, born and raised. I moved to 3 other states and came back. And I live in Placitas.
There are houses that have sat vacant in Ranchos de Placitas because investors were building just to sell - making the place more congested. If they are over pricing them, they are still vacant. Go figure.
Snobs may come from elsewhere - but not typically from New Mexico.
My observation of Placitas is that it is clearly for the wealthy. Dh and I are retired military and federal government. I went in to visit with the local Placitas real estate office and he sniffed, "Our houses begin at $500,000" as he looked me up and down. Placitas is indeed "special" in their own little way. At the convenience store, you'll find newspapers from New York City and other large eastern cities. New Mexicans living there? I don't think so.
I've lived in Placitas for almost 10 years now. My neighbors, including several native New Mexicans, are friendly, respectful and helpful without being nosy. Some of the local critters, OTH, could improve on their table manners. ;-)
We didn't go to Placitas because I was scared of the snakes, lol.
We rented in Glenwood for 6 months and then bought in Vista del Mundo, right on the open space. My cat was killed by a snake, my dog has been attacked by an owl, and the woman down the street went out to have coffee on the patio one morning last month and found a mountain lion on her chaise lounge. Maybe I should have gone to Nob Hill...
We didn't go to Placitas because I was scared of the snakes, lol.
We rented in Glenwood for 6 months and then bought in Vista del Mundo, right on the open space. My cat was killed by a snake, my dog has been attacked by an owl, and the woman down the street went out to have coffee on the patio one morning last month and found a mountain lion on her chaise lounge. Maybe I should have gone to Nob Hill...
an indoor cat that hatched a great escape, with dire consequences.
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