[Volunteers_fosm] Fw: FOSM Guard Station - avoid until we can address the rodent waste.

[Sam Beard]

Hello FOSM Volunteers,

Please see the email from Andrew Ellis, SRD Wildlife Biologist, tells us not to enter the FOSM Guard Station.

It appears that we should just cancel all our projects until the area has been cleaned and disinfected.

Sam


________________________________
From: Ellis, Andrew - FS, NM <andrew.ellis at usda.gov>
Sent: Friday, May 15, 2026 11:29 AM
To: Sam Beard <samgbeard at msn.com>; Joelle Hertel <joelle.h5 at gmail.com>
Cc: Coambs, Sandra - FS, NM <sandra.coambs at usda.gov>; Born, Kenneth - FS, NM <kenneth.born at usda.gov>
Subject: FOSM Guard House - avoid until we can address the rodent waste.


Hey all, I just sent a similar message to the folks working on Tijeras Pueblo for some of their spaces.



I know that we have been talking about getting the FOSM guard station cleaned but until I can either get you all supplies and safety equipment or arrange a professional cleaning, do not expose yourself to hantavirus - I will be the one to say No – do not clean it until we can provide bleach and other safety equipment. Please use extreme caution when going into the guard house in the meantime, or preferably avoid this space entirely. I know this puts a damper on your access to tools in there. If we cannot get the space cleaned/repaired to prevent rodent entry I will work with you all to figure out a time for a deep cleaning and making some repairs to prevent rodent entry in the next 2 weeks.



If you are really in a pinch and need access asap, just let me or Sandra know! I am sorry I have not been able to get to this sooner; I have been slammed and chasing down some key time sensitive tasks.



Hantavirus has like a 60% fatality rate for healthy people when it isn’t detected during the early body ache stages – this rarely happens and it isn’t until it develops in the lungs that most people/doctors figure it out. Survivors often have severe disabilities.



Please take this risk seriously and pass this message on to the other members of FOSM.



I deeply value you all and your work. Your safety is important to me – I am working to get either a contract or purchase of supplies to help with this asap. I am waiting for follow-up on our pest company as we speak.



[Forest Service Shield]

Andrew Ellis
District Wildlife Biologist

Forest Service

Sandia Ranger District

Mountainair Ranger District

Cell: 1-505-607-5794

Office: 1-505-281-3304
Andrew.Ellis at USDA.Gov<mailto:Andrew.Ellis at USDA.Gov>

11776 NM-337
Tijeras, NM 87059








This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.
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