Violent crime is almost unknown in Los Alamos; it is one of the safest communities you'll ever visit. The biggest lawbreaking threat to life and limb is drunk drivers. Northern New Mexico has an unfortunate and well-deserved reputation for DUI problems. Until recently Los Alamos was an exception to this, but not any more. Be alert when driving on the arterial roads after 10PM or so, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights. Another driving hazard is wildlife, particularly deer and elk. Mule deer can be seen around town all year long, day and night. Herds of elk come down from the Jemez Mountains during the winter and often congregate around the roads. If your car hits an elk at highway speed, the elk may lose, but you will most assuredly not win. Again, be careful driving after sundown during the winter months.
Believe it or not, one of the most important types of fatal accident sustained by townspeople is falling off a cliff -- sometimes a cliff literally in the victim's back yard. The sheer canyon walls that give the area much of its natural beauty also pose traps for the unwary recreational hiker. If you're out enjoying the many hiking trails around town, stay on the trail when around a cliff unless you're doing roped climbing.
In most other regards Los Alamos itself is an almost absurdly safe place. When in the forest camping, hiking, etc., take the usual precautions, with maybe a little extra attention to fire safety; several of the disastrous forest fires the area experienced over the last 30 years resulted from poorly constructed campfires that were not well put out and thus smoldered, eventually starting up again and igniting tinder. If the national forest is closed to camping owing to fire hazard as often happens in early summer or forbids open fires which can happen almost any time from May until August, please comply and seek your accommodations somewhere else. One final note: bubonic plague is endemic to northern New Mexico, and plague-bearing fleas and rodents have been trapped from within the city limits. As cautioned in the article on Bandelier National Monument, if you see a distressed or dead rodent or other small animal, leave it alone; buzzards are immune to plague, you are not.
medical care
Los Alamos Medical Center is a small municipal primary care hospital. Serious injuries are sent on to larger hospitals in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and more distant points by ambulance. Fixed and rotary wing air ambulances are available, the hospital has a helipad, and the municipal airport is barely two miles away.
Los Alamos Urgent Care (http://urgentcaresf.com/) is a popular choice for residents and visitors alike who need urgent but not emergency medical care.
Los Alamos is served by two mobile large animal veterinarians, High Desert Equine 505 455-1001, based 15 minutes east of town and Oso Mobile Veterinary Services 505 695-0052, based in town. The nearest large animal clinic is Valley Veterinary Clinic 505 455-2228â on 85/284 just north of Pojoaque. The nearest colic surgery is Thal Equine (http://www.thalequine.com/) south of Santa Fe.
For small animals there is Animal Clinic of Los Alamos (http://www.aclapets.com/) and Ridgeview Veterinary Hospital, (http://www.rvhvets.com/) both on East Road NM 502.