Facebook photo of the scene at the White Rock Y interchange Friday evening.

Facebook photo of the second vehicle involved in Friday’s incident.

BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com

Los Alamos County residents have been concerned for a few years now about the number of feral cattle in the area near the White Rock Y. Although more than 21 cows were removed from the County in 2021, it is estimated that there are between 12 and 30 left in the Y area.

Los Alamos Police Cmdr. Daniel Roberts told the Los Alamos Reporter that there is a high probability of encountering feral cattle at the bottom of the Main Hill Road and around the White Rock turnoff.

Cmdr. Roberts advises drivers to exercise extreme caution when driving in the White Rick Y area, especially early in the morning and during the night. The cattle are dark-colored and hard to see. County Open Space Specialist Eric Peterson has said that some of the bulls can weight 2,000lbs, which of course means they can have quite an impact on a vehicle and those inside.

On Friday, February 24, LAPD responded to the scene of a vehicle versus cow incident just above the Y interchange that involved a bus and a passenger vehicle. Three people were transported by Los Alamos Fire Department personnel to Los Alamos Medical Center with minor injuries after a bus traveling towards Los Alamos in the Y interchange area struck a feral cow. Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office took over on arrival at the scene.

In 2021, the County entered into a contract with Cody Fahrion of Busted Spur Cattle Company of Pagosa Springs. Many feral cattle were removed from the Baho and Pueblo Canyons, however there are regular reports of people seeing more cattle out on the trails. The County is reportedly planning to put the Busted Spurs folks back to work to remove more cattle.

Cattle that are captured are returned to their owners if they are branded. Otherwise they are turned over to the State Brand Inspector, Cmdr. Roberts said.