This report is a monthly submission by the Las Placitas Association about community news and views.
Pipeline Danger: The current pipeline replacement activity in Placitas is a visible reminder that there are five commercial pipelines running Placitas—some 60 years old. While the current work is a public nuisance, it’s others that present the most danger. These single-wall pipelines move potentially dangerous butane, crude oil and gasoline at very high pressure. Some cross arroyos and run 3/4 mile up Las Huertas Creek. The recent monsoon rain that arrived with driving rain left Placitas with compromised protective blankets in the creek bed. It’s a recurring story. They come in and “repair” the damage and it lasts until the next heavy rain. LPA has worked to expose a potential disaster for years, insisting that the pipelines should be moved out of populated areas. We have hosted field trips with elected officials and pipeline regulators to view the problem areas. Will it take a leak or explosion to be taken seriously?
Forest Service changing of the guard: We have just learned that Amanda Ginithan, acting Sandia District Ranger, has moved to be closer to her aging parents. Amanda opened lines of communication with Placitas that had been absent since Syd Morgan left years ago and she will be missed. Join us in welcoming Ken Born as the new acting Sandia District Ranger effective October 6. Ken has served as a District Ranger in other areas, was born and raised in the southwest and currently lives in Albuquerque. We hope to reach out to him soon to continue the conversations around any forest thinning projects that will affect Placitas.
Co-existing with Pack rats: They are abundant and destructive. Anyone who has replaced wiring in a vehicle or hot tub because of pack rats may be surprised to find that in addition to being intelligent and handsome, they are part of a healthy ecosystem. Desert Diaries shared some interesting facts with us.
- They are seed and cactus “dispersers” (they help plants get started in new places). They are an essential part of the food chain – feeding bobcats, coyotes, owls, hawks and snakes. Areas with a packrat presence have a higher biodiversity of animals, so they are considered a keystone species. When they pee on things, it ensconces them in an amber-like fluid that crystallizes and creates time capsules of our distant past.
- We were fascinated to learn about their dens which are climate controlled and well protected. They construct them out of sticks, branches and rocks, then protect them with cholla and dog poop. A den has many rooms including the nest (bedroom) and midden (toilet).
We may not have you in love with them yet. It can certainly be a financial burden to have a packrat problem. But poisoning them is neither desirable nor necessary. In fact, LPA urges you not to poison any plant or pest. The poison moves up the food chain to kill birds and predators. There are other ways to discourage packrats from inhabiting your space.
- Clear away brush; dismantle rock piles; leave your BBQ uncovered; Prop open the hood of outside vehicles.
- Get a Jack Russell Terrier.
- If you encounter a packrat house (the cholla fence is a clue), dismantle it using a pitchfork or shovel.
- If the packrat persists, use a live trap and relocate the offender. While there isn’t solid data on packrat relocation and survival rates, it is a better environmental choice than using poison.
Save the Date: On Saturday, January 18, 2-4 p.m., LPA is hosting an afternoon at Placitas Community Library in celebration of KUPR’s 10th anniversary in 2025 – complete with refreshments, awards and a roll out of the station’s activities.