Wildlife Sightings, actual animals, not athletes or vehicles. (Albuquerque, Rio Rancho: house, living)

[ABQConvict]

To counteract the growing number of threads with ambiguous titles that may lead one to believe that Albuquerque is overrun with wild animals, I have decided to start a thread that concerns sightings of actual wild animals in the Albuquerque metro area.

In the last couple of weeks I have noticed a number of roadrunners in my area. This is after several years of only very occasional sightings. I have also seen a couple of grey squirrels which I had never seen until this year. Of course, sparrows, house finches, red-breasted thrushes and red-tailed hawks are in abundance as usual.

On the news last night there were reports of bears in the Heights and Rio Rancho.

Anyone else have an encounter with wild animals lately?


ABQConvict

[berncohomes]

Yesterday afternoon there were 2 Roadrunners beyond my back wall.

Monday morning I saw a Coyote walking along the inside of the USAF fence which is about 10yds from my back wall, I also heard him/her howl yesterday afternoon which made me go to the back wall which is how I saw the Roadrunners.

About a month ago I found a baby sidewinder on my driveway. I took a photo with my phone, I'll post it later.

Also yesterday in this area (Four Hills) animal control came and took a Bear out of a tree.

[AlisonL]

Saw a lot of jackrabbits out on Rainbow Blvd on Sunday. The usual wildbirds in my backyard, and these guys.
I invited them home for BBQ, but they didn't seem too impressed.

[AlisonL]

Seriously, if you look closely on the right center of the photo, you can see a jackrabbit...
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o80/aml207/cactus025.jpg (broken link)

We've lived here for eleven months and have seen maybe a dozen coyotes, alot of roadrunners, owls, hawks and a couple of beetles of some kind.

[Mike Horrell]

Typically we see dozens of finches, doves and pigeons every day at our bird feeder;
I saw my first humming bird in my neighbor's yard yesterday and for 3 days in a
row I've seen a road runner (can't tell if it's the same one) cutting through our
yard in the morning with a dead lizard in its mouth. We have rabbits and are
starting to put out left over greens to feed them. We also have coyote but we
haven't seen one in weeks.

And we're in the city..

[ABQConvict]

I used to see a lot of lizards in this part of town, both skinks and the kind with the blue tails, but they kind of disappeared. I wonder if the recent roadrunner sightings indicate a return or if the roadrunners are eating something else.

One thing I have never seen in my 'hood is snakes. Not a one. I do see a lot of jackrabbits near the UNM golf course (just SE of the Big-I). Also, there is plenty of evidence of beaver activity in the bosque. Anyone who haunts the river seen one of those guys?

Also, I have smelled skunk but haven't seen one (very different from NY where they are almost as common as stray cats). Don't know of any raccoons, either even though the valley seems like prime habitat. Anyone seen one of those?

ABQConvict

[karmathecat]

This dangerous creature appears in our backyard quite frequently and eats our grass.

[Mike Horrell]

Originally Posted by karmathecat

This dangerous creature appears in our backyard quite frequently and eats our grass.

GASP!!! He attacks you, too!!! The horror...

[karmathecat]

Yes, this morning he was only about 6 feet away from me but in the front yard.

Thankfully, I survived the encounter.

We also have what I believe to be a rare chipmunk living part-time under a wine barrel/planter in the back yard.

[Poncho_NM]

All photos taken by me....


Taken on September 29, 2006 in my side yard. Rio Rancho, NM




Unknown date, probably 2004, back yard. Rio Rancho, NM


Friendly Road Runner, taken July 2007 Sandia Peak,NM




Rich