Wildlife Removal in Albuquerque: Rattlesnakes, Roof Rats & the Bosque

Albuquerque sits at 5,300 feet in the Rio Grande Valley, flanked by the Sandia Mountains to the east and the West Mesa to the west. The Rio Grande bosque — a ribbon of cottonwood forest running through the center of the city — is one of the most important wildlife corridors in the Southwest. It connects mountain habitat to desert habitat and delivers raccoons, coyotes, and waterfowl directly into residential neighborhoods throughout the metro. The Sandia Mountains, rising to 10,678 feet immediately east of the city, add mountain species to the mix.

Albuquerque's summer monsoon (July–September) is the most important factor in the city's rattlesnake encounter calendar. Monsoon rains trigger increased snake movement — animals that were sheltering during the dry heat emerge to hunt, breed, and establish new territories. Rattlesnake encounters in yards, garages, and near foundations spike significantly from July through September.

Western diamondback rattlesnakes are the most common rattlesnake in the region and are found throughout Bernalillo County. Prairie rattlesnakes are found in grassland and mesa areas throughout the metro. Speckled rattlesnakes are found in rocky terrain in the Sandia foothills.

Neighborhoods in the Northeast Heights and Foothills — Tanoan, High Desert, Four Hills — border the Sandia Mountains directly and face the highest rattlesnake encounter rates. But encounters occur throughout the city, particularly after monsoon rains.

Roof rats are a significant and growing problem throughout Albuquerque. The city's warm summers support year-round breeding, and fruit trees — apricot, apple, grape, and various stone fruits — common in Albuquerque yards provide year-round food. Roof rats are agile climbers that enter homes through rooflines, gaps around utility penetrations, and gaps in older construction.

Older neighborhoods in the North Valley, South Valley, and Central Albuquerque have the highest roof rat encounter rates, partly because of older housing stock and partly because of the abundance of mature fruit trees.

The Rio Grande bosque runs through the center of Albuquerque, providing wildlife with a continuous corridor from the mountains to the desert. Raccoons, coyotes, great horned owls, and waterfowl all use the bosque as a movement route. Neighborhoods near the Bosque Trail — the North Valley, South Valley, and Barelas — face higher wildlife pressure than those farther from the river.

The Chihuahuan Desert supports extraordinary bat diversity, and several species roost in Albuquerque buildings. New Mexico Department of Game and Fish regulations prohibit exclusion during maternity season (June 1 – August 15). Outside that window, exclusion can be performed year-round.

Call (800) 319-1556 for a free inspection. We serve Bernalillo County and surrounding areas.

View our Albuquerque service page for more information.