Roadrunner Sightings and Discussions (Albuquerque, Santa Fe: elementary school, to live in, gym)

[thelazyone]

Great looking pictures everyone. My heart is beating with excitment and I wish the end of the month was already here.

[desert sun]

I seen a fat roadrunner that looked like a blowfish roaming around a parking lot last week

[manekeniko]

If you wanted to see a roadrunner close up, where in ABQ would you find one? I read references to them in this forum, and wasn't sure what they actually looked like. My only exposure to a roadrunner is the TV toon (BEEP-BEEP). Also, are these critters friendly?

What other fauna and flora do you regularly encounter in ABQ? I am a big admirer of desert flowers and cactus gardens.

[Westbound and Down]

I have seen a bunch of them along Indian School Rd between Carlisle and University. You will know it when you see one; the only thing I can add is they are smaller than the cartoon character might lead you to believe.

[threecats407]

Hard to say exactly where you will see one. I have seen them along Tramway, running wild in the ABQ zoo, in residential areas, outside the parking area at Cracker Barrel.......
Where I have yet to see one is in Elena Gallegos open space where I have 'hiked' hundreds of times. As far as 'friendly' I was once rewarded with being able to photograph one for a good fifteen minutes from less than ten feet away. My guess is that was a lucky exception.

[NMHacker]

I see them all over the city. The largest chance of seeing them are down by the river.

[Poncho_NM]

Originally Posted by manekeniko

If you wanted to see a roadrunner close up, where in ABQ would you find one?

Just about anywhere.

Read this thread: Roadrunner sightings.

Originally Posted by manekeniko

My only exposure to a roadrunner is the TV toon (BEEP-BEEP). Also, are these critters friendly?

They are not related to the cartoon. They are curious. I would not call them friendly... I have seen them eat lizards, baby birds, grasshoppers and french fries (Sonic Parking Lots). They are said to eat snakes, even rattlesnakes and spiders to include black widows...

Originally Posted by manekeniko

What other fauna and flora do you regularly encounter in ABQ? I am a big admirer of desert flowers and cactus gardens.

Read this thread: Wildlife Sightings (actual animals, not athletes or vehicles)

[manekeniko]

You took some nice pictures, Poncho.

Do coyotes attack people? I mean grownups, not little children and babies. I think I'd scream and run off if I saw a snake of any size.

[ABQConvict]

On the ground, near shrubs. If you like to walk around everyday admiring people's shrubby landscaping, you will eventually see them.

[Poncho_NM]

Originally Posted by manekeniko

You took some nice pictures, Poncho.

Do coyotes attack people? I mean grownups, not little children and babies. I think I'd scream and run off if I saw a snake of any size.

Thanks, I have been practicing taking pictures many years. I now have the time and money to do it more frequently. I walk my dogs every day, so I get to see a lot.

I know of no real cases of coyotes attacking humans in New Mexico. I don't know of coyotes attacking humans in New Mexico. I repeated it because I'm sure someone will have a story to tell.

I am more afraid of dog attacks. I have family and friends who have been attacked by dogs.

If you see a snake, stop, back up carefully and don't trip. Learn to identify what rattlesnakes look like. If you see a rattlesnake, stop, slowly back up carefully away from it. Screaming and running might scare an animal who might attack you...