Situated in the foothills of the Sandia Mountains, Sandia Heights shares habitat with an impressive array of wildlife. Bears, coyotes, bobcats, deer, and the occasional mountain lion are visitors to our area, along with smaller animals like rabbits, rock squirrels, raccoons, bridled weasels, pack rats, and various native mice. Bull snakes, rattlesnakes, and coachwhip snakes are also part of our environment, helping keep the rodent population in balance. Numerous bird species, from bluejays and roadrunners to hawks and other raptors, also make their home here. By choosing to live in Sandia Heights, our residents embrace both the thrill of seeing wild animals outside our windows and the responsibility to coexist harmoniously with our wild neighbors. One aspect of living with the wildlife component of our neighborhood is preserving the natural habitat in Sandia Heights through which the wild neighbors move and live.