It's been a tough year for New Mexico's wildlife. Fires and drought have pushed bears, coyotes and mountain lions right into people's backyards.

Many are surprised, but not Katherine Eagleson. The executive director of The Wildlife Center in Arroyo Seco has been fielding phone calls all summer about unexpected visitors. She and her staff have been struggling to handle the influx of injured animals at New Mexico's only rehabilitation center for large mammals like bears.

"The combination of severe drought and wildfires is concentrating the wildlife to land where it can support them," she said. "The first place they end up is in someone's backyard, in the garbage."

This year, the center has taken in 24 bears, and is now caring for 17, more than ever before at this time of year. But it's not just bears. Fawns, coyotes, birds of prey and raccoons are among the host of animals needing care.

The bears, especially the younger ones, are especially hard hit. The state Department of Game and Fish reported recently that it has euthanized 158 bears in New Mexico since April. Some were killed because they lost their fear of humans, while others were killed for damaging property.

It's going to get worse before it gets better, Eagleson said. She fears the state may lose an entire generation of bears.

"Most bears 1 or 2 years old are not making it," she said. "They are going to die, and they are going to go into people's backyards looking for food. This isn't going to be solved quickly."

A bad berry crop has been forcing bears to look for other food sources. The lack of a healthy, natural habitat leaves few places to relocate a sick or injured bear, forcing them to stay longer at the center's off-site location.

"People need to understand that there is not enough space and food out there to relocate the wildlife," Eagleson said.

While conservationists are working on this year's short-term problems, Eagleson said she is trying to get others involved in a long-term solution. The center is looking to hold a series of workshops on creating sustainable habitat for wildlife, including protecting the watersheds and preserving land.

The goal is to educate people about living with wildlife and formulating a plan to preserve it. "People like the idea of wildlife but have no knowledge about what wildlife requires or what to do if they encounter wildlife. And there is no process for helping them deal with wildlife."

Many species, including coyotes, raccoons and skunks, fall in a nebulous category. These critters aren't under the jurisdiction of the state Game and Fish Department or local animal services.

People are naturally frustrated when their concern about wildlife meets unanswered calls. Eagleson said she hopes to work with city officials to create a resource to address wildlife concerns.

"Santa Fe is a wildlife interface," she said. "It's a place where wildlife meets the urban area. But the city doesn't have anyone to deal with that, and we need to sit down with them and create a plan."

New Mexico isn't the only place where animals are forced to find greener pastures. A recent study published in the scientific journal Science indicates that animal and plant species have responded to changes in habitat and the global climate up to three times faster than previously thought.

Those in the so-called wildlife interface can help ease the problem, Eagleson said, by being proactive. People should educate themselves about what to do when encountering wildlife and stop making their own backyards attractive to unwanted species.

Chimneys should be capped, for example, to discourage raccoons, and people need to avoid leaving out garbage that might attract bears. People should also consider bringing in bird feeders for the night and know that a koi pond is a magnet to nocturnal critters.

"There are things that people can do in the long term and in the short term," Eagleson said. "We have to learn to live with wildlife, not relocate them. We need to make a commitment to have enough land that we can have a habitat for wildlife."

In the meantime, Eagleson and her staff are working to heal injured wildlife at the center. There's has been a tremendous response to help the center handle the influx of wildlife, she said, but more needs to be done to deal with the problem systematically and in the long term.

For more information about The Wildlife Center, call 753-9505 or visit the website at www.thewildifecenter.org.


URBAN WILDLIFE TIPS

As human population grows, people and wildlife often find themselves living in the same area. Here are some general tips to avoid wildlife conflicts:

• Secure your garbage

• Feed pets indoors

• Never feed wildlife

• If you feed birds, be aware that feeders may attract other wildlife. Place feeders so only birds can get to them

• Don't feed the ducks and geese

Critter-proof your home

In the fall, some wildlife look for places to spend the winter. Secure your home to keep them out.

• Evaluate your home and buildings for places an animal could enter. Don't forget the eaves and attic—squirrels and raccoons like them. Skunks like to burrow under porches and woodpiles.

• Look at vents, drain pipes, and cracks in foundations where mice, rats, bats and snakes could enter.

• Seal potential entryways with sturdy wire mesh or solid materials and caulk openings before animals move in. Screen foundation vents.

• Cover window wells with chicken wire or heavy wire mesh or purchase commercially made grates or bubbles.

• Screen chimneys, wood stove pipes, and furnace, attic and dryer vents. Chimney tops can be screened to prevent birds and animals from nesting inside. First, check with your local fire department or other safety resource to prevent fire and safety hazards. Close dampers when not in use to avoid drop-in guests.