As summer begins and people partake in outdoor activities, the importance of wildlife safety increases. Chances of encounters with large animals and snakes increase as people and animals become more active during summer months.
These encounters are certainly a possibility for Lab employees. Recently, a bobcat was seen near Technical Area 46 and a rattlesnake was spotted at TA-40.
Lab employees are encouraged to minimize encounters with such animals through simple precautions. Employees can deter large predators and snakes by cutting grass and weeds to increase visibility around walkways and by removing unused equipment from work areas. Employees also are encouraged to keep fruit picked up and to keep garbage inside until the day it is scheduled to be collected. This prevents large animals from looking for food in work areas. Lab employees can reduce the likelihood that snakes will enter their work areas by having all rodents, snakes’ food source, removed.
According to James Biggs of the Environmental Protection (EP) Division, “If a large predator is encountered, the best thing to do is remain calm.” People who encounter a large predator should slowly back away from the animal. It is never a good idea to turn and run from an animal, he said.
Biggs also suggests that Lab employees watch out for deer and elk on the roads, especially at dawn and dusk.
If Lab employees encounter a snake, they should stay very still because snakes have trouble seeing immobile objects. Tom Wyant of Computing, Telecommunications and Networking (CTN) Division says, “The most important thing to remember is to leave the snake alone.” It also is a good idea to avoid wearing shorts or sandals when going to an area that may have snakes.
If a Lab employee is bitten by a snake, he or she should try to keep any activity to a minimum and get to a hospital as quickly as possible. Lab employees also should not try to remove snakes from work areas. They should report any snake sightings to their facility management representative who will notify Pest Control at 7-6111.
If an employee is attacked by an animal or bitten by a snake, the employee should immediately seek medical attention and then contact Emergency Response (ER) Division at 7-6211. The employee’s line manager also should be notified of the incident. General animal sightings can be reported to Biggs at 5-5714 or to Leslie Hansen of the EP Division at 5-9873.
Lab employees interested in learning more about wildlife safety can enroll in a course offered by EP and CTN. Wildlife Awareness: How to Avoid Problems with Large Animals (#17747) and New Mexico Snake Awareness (#13960) discuss wildlife safety in great detail. These classes are offered in June and July. For more information about these trainings, click here (Adobe Acrobat Reader required).
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Insects and spiders
Insect safety tips:
• Check dark areas for insects and webs before reaching into them.
• Contact a facility manager if a nest is spotted so a request to have the nest sprayed can be made.
• Carry a medical kit if allergic to bees or insects.
• Dispose of open, sweet drink containers.
• Wear insect repellant.
Spider bite tips:
• Call a doctor immediately.
• If possible, do not move the bitten area.
• Apply a cold compress to the bite.
• Keep the bitten area hanging down.
• Report bites to Occupational Medicine (OM).
