Life is full of risks, many of which are universal. However, some dangers are greater in certain places. Even though New Mexico is awesome, we still have hazards that kill residents and visitors alike every year. So use your common sense and avoid the following threats when possible! Note: these aren’t ranked in any particular order… they’re just a compilation of dangerous things in New Mexico that you might want to try and steer clear of.

1. Lightning
Flickr/Todd Shoemake
During the summer months, parts of New Mexico experience almost daily thunderstorms. We actually have the highest rate of death by lightning in the nation! Admittedly the number of people affected is still small, but here it’s worth taking lightning seriously.
2. Flash floods
Flickr/J.J.
New Mexico mostly receives rain during monsoon season, the height of which comes in July and August. Stay out of slot canyons and arroyos when rainstorms are predicted and don’t wade or drive through floodwater. Remember, people swept away in their cars account for 60% of flood-related deaths.
3. Forest fires
Flickr/US Forest Service Gila National Forest
New Mexico has an extra season: fire season. So we’re all about forest fire prevention – after all, we are the state that brought you Smokey Bear. The 2011 Las Conchas Fire blazed through more than 150,000 acres of the Santa Fe National Forest. The following year, the Whitewater-Baldy Complex Fire burned even more land in the Gila National Forest. Sadly, it’s usually the brave men and women battling the flames who are killed by them. But fires, and the smoke they produce, also pose a risk to members of the public.
4. Hiking
Flickr/uıɐɾ ʞ ʇɐɯɐs
Don’t hang up your boots just yet! One of the best things about living in New Mexico is exploring our vast and stunning wilderness areas. But, with limited cell phone reception and so much untamed land, it’s hard to summon help if something does go wrong. Plus, most of the things on this list can be found in the great outdoors!
5. Spiders
Flickr/Anita Gould
Two types of poisonous spiders are found in the state: the black widow spider and the brown spider. Technically, there are three species of brown spiders here. These are the Apache, the desert, and the blanda. Spider venom poses the greatest threat to small children.

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6. Reptiles
Flickr/tom spinker
Rattlesnakes and coral snakes are native to New Mexico. The venom of both of these snakes can kill. The gila monster is a type of venomous lizard in New Mexico. Its venom causes severe health problems but it isn’t actually deadly. In fact, the neurotoxin that gila monsters release has been used to create a diabetes drug!
7. Scorpions
Flickr/midwinter
Apparently no one told the Arizona bark scorpion about the location of state lines! These venomous creatures have been spotted in the southwestern corner of our state.
8. Rodents
Flickr/J. N. Stuart
Given the Disney associations, mice and other rodents don’t seem particularly threatening. Undesirable, sure. But lethal? While New Mexican rodents are hardly closet assassins, they can carry potentially fatal diseases. Out of the 134 human plague cases reported in the U.S. since 1990, 65 of these occurred in New Mexico. Hantavirus, a disease carried by mice, has resulted in 208 deaths since 1993. Out of these cases, 91 were in New Mexico. Not huge numbers given the state’s overall population, but something to think about.
9. Nuclear waste
Wikimedia Commons/Leaflet
The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) is located in New Mexico, near Carlsbad. Its job is to dispose of all of our country’s nuclear waste, both past and present. In 2014, a 55-gallon drum of radioactive material erupted, contaminating the facility. Apparently, workers at Los Alamos National Laboratory filled the barrel with organic cat litter rather than clay cat litter, which is often used to stabilize radioactive substances. The drum was then transported to WIPP, where it burst. The incident emphasized the possible repercussions of just one mistake. Whoops.
10. Driving
Flickr/gardener41
Traffic accidents are a risk everywhere and are the 11th leading cause of death in our state. We mostly include driving because we were surprised that New Mexico is actually nowhere near the worst state in terms of either traffic fatalities or drunk drivers. Who knew?

What other hazards are part and parcel of life in New Mexico? Share your thoughts in the comments! For a bit of a palate cleanser, check out the most amazing hot springs in New Mexico.

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More to Explore

Dangerous Things in New Mexico

Tori Jane | August 10, 2022

What are some of the most dangerous animals in New Mexico?  

New Mexico is a state with a lot of open land, and plenty of wildlife capable of greatly harming a human being. Some of the most dangerous animals in New Mexico include creepy crawlies like rattlesnakes, Arizona bark scorpions, black widow spiders, brown recluse spiders, and more. In fact, Apache brown recluse spiders are one of the single most dangerous animals in New Mexico, and they’re not even a prolific predator (well, to humans, anyway – they're pretty expert killers to their prey). You can often find them hiding in piles of leaves, as well as nooks and crannies in homes and outdoor sheds. Be careful and stay aware of where you’re putting your hands or feet.  

What are examples of dangerous wildlife in New Mexico?  

All of the critters listed above are some of the most dangerous wildlife in New Mexico, thanks to being venomous or otherwise dangerous somehow. Spiders are capable of killing people with one bite, and scorpions can incapacitate with one or two good stings. Rattlesnake bites can be deadly, and antivenom is needed as soon as humanly possible for the best odds of survival.  

Are there many natural predators in New Mexico?  

Of course! Many of the insects and reptiles mentioned above are natural predators, though in this case, let’s talk mammals. Some of the most dangerous predators in New Mexico include coyotes, mountain lions, black bears (which can occasionally become aggressive, when they feel like it), and bobcats. These animals are “shy” and much prefer to avoid people entirely, but if cornered or threatened, many will not hesitate to teach you a lesson about it. You can still check out the best scenic hikes in New Mexico without worrying too much – but make sure to remain situationally aware at all times.  

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