What happened to the mountain lion found in Rio Rancho?

The mountain lion found in a Rio Rancho neighborhood recently has been returned to a remote area in the northwestern part of the state, according to the Department of Game and Fish.

This was the first mountain lion found in a neighborhood this year, and the department released it after observation to ensure the mountain lion was stable, the department added.

In an email interview with the Journal, the department answered more questions about the incident regarding potential reasons the mountain lion visited Rio Rancho, ways the recent heat wave and past fires affect habitats, and what to do if you see a mountain lion walking down your street.

Responses from the Department of Game and Fish have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

What happens to the animals after they are captured? Where do they get released?

"This mountain lion was released. That is not always the case, however. If an animal shows habituation to humans to the point it has lost fear of humans, aggression to humans or is killing livestock, we consider that a dangerous animal, and euthanize per our safety protocols."

Have you noticed any trends in the kinds of animals that have been spotted?

"We have not seen anything different or abnormal compared to past years."

Have there been more, less, or close to the same number of animals appearing in neighborhoods?

"The numbers of animals have been about the same."

How have the wildfires affected the animals' habitats?

"The fires have created an immense amount of young growth, which, in turn, promotes smaller prey species for predators. In general, these animals have evolved for millennia, with the short-term and long-term effects of wildfires impacting their habitat. There is typically short-term displacement of animals when they flee areas where there are active fires. This displacement during the fire puts animals in unfamiliar territories or habitats, which may cause them to be more conspicuous as they’re active at abnormal times or in open areas. However, those are mostly short-term effects, and after a fire is out, animals begin to return to burned areas fairly quickly. In areas that weren’t severely burned, vegetation will begin growing again if there is adequate rainfall. This is especially the case here in New Mexico, given that we frequently have fires in May and June that are then followed by monsoon rains that encourage a lot of growth. That secondary regrowth of vegetation can be highly beneficial for wildlife for many years as it creates a thick understory of grasses, forbs, fruit and mast-producing shrubs and young trees that deer and elk (the primary prey for cougars) thrive on. While there may be areas that are too severely burned for vegetation to return right away, it is often the case that those areas are patches mixed in with other areas that were less effected and where vegetation can regrow. So, while there may be some severe impacts in concentrated areas, across the whole area, habitat is re-growing and wildlife is returning."

Was this an isolated incident, or are mountain lion sightings near neighborhoods becoming more common? If so, what seems to be driving the increase in sightings? Could this be connected to the ongoing heat wave?

"Sightings are common in areas where mountain lions are reasonably expected to be, including the mountains (i.e., the foothills), the Bosque, riparian corridors, etc. These animals are very well-adapted to heat and generally have all the tools necessary to survive a heat wave."

Is there any way to know where the mountain lion came from (Jemez area, Santa Fe, Sandias etc.)?

"No, mountain lions have a large home range."

Did the mountain lion appear healthy? Was it possibly searching for food/water in the neighborhood? Or just lost?

"The mountain lion appeared to be healthy. They are pretty much always looking for food and water. It likely accidentally wandered into this neighborhood and just could not find its way out."

If a person sees a wild animal in their neighborhood, what should they do?

"If people see wild animals in their neighborhood that are acting as wild animals should, then they do not need to do anything except enjoy that rare encounter. Behaviors that are normal for wild animals include passing through an area or being wary or fleeing human presence.

"If people see wild animals in their neighborhood that seem to be habituated to humans, then they should get in contact with a Game and Fish officer, and this is especially true for our large carnivores. Behaviors that should raise concern include animals making regular use of human-created food or water sources (trash, pet food, etc.), animals that do not flee human presence, and/or animals making defensive or aggressive movement towards humans. Any wild animal that habituates to human presence or food sources is not just a risk to human safety, but also a risk to their own safety as they are at an increased chance of vehicle strike, disease exposure from domestic animals or human-wildlife conflict.

"Information on deterrents and safety precautions can be found on the Department of Game and Fish’s website."

What is the general advice for people who see mountain lions? What are the potential safety risks of confronting or scaring a mountain lion?

"Just like any wild animal, if you corner it or try to feed it, there is a high potential of that wild animal attacking you. Make a lot of noise, back away slowly while facing the animal, and do not turn and run. If you are attacked, fight back aggressively and violently."