New Mexico’s 35 State Parks are home to an incredible variety of wildlife including elk, javelina, bobcats and 300 species of butterflies. Most species you may encounter at New Mexico’s State Parks do not present immediate threats but there is one that could be quite dangerous and visitors should be aware of their potential presence and know what to do in an encounter.
As of 2023, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish estimated there were 3,494 mountain lions 18 months or older living in the state. Many of these mountain lions’ home ranges share the same ground as State Parks like this one who was spotted strolling through a campsite at Cimarron Canyon State Park.
These campers did the right thing by standing their ground and not running away from the apex predator as running can stimulate a mountain lion’s instinct to chase and trigger an attack. They also provided the mountain lion with enough room to escape and did not impede its egress. Learn more about mountain lion safety in New Mexico below.
New Mexico Mountain Lion Safety Guidelines:
DON’T RUN
• If you see a cougar, face the cougar and slowly back away
• DO NOT run or play dead
• Pick up small children immediately and calm them
• Leave room for the cougar to escape, do not approach
• Make noise, make yourself look larger, lift arms up, and shout loudly
• If the cougar attacks, fight back hard with sticks, stones, backpack
BE ALERT
• Do not approach dead animals – cougars defend their prey
• Hike in groups and make enough noise to prevent surprising a cougar
• Carry a walking stick and bear pepper spray
• Keep pets leashed
• Keep children close at hand
PARENTS
• Don’t let children run ahead or fall behind
• Keep children close at hand
And???? It’s their habitat!
There’s one in Velarde ate a lamb in La Canova and he was caught on the neighbors security cameras near the middle rd. Close to Mike’s Mini Mart.
Watch your little pets and close in your chickens