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

[Laura Leon]

I was in the Guard house on Thursday refilling my first aid kit. I wish I
knew not to go in. The storage container should be safe correct?
Laura

On Fri, May 15, 2026 at 8:04 PM Robert Lowder via Volunteers_fosm <
volunteers_fosm at mailman.swcp.com> wrote:

> FOSM Members/Volunteers
> Andrew:
> Thank you for the update. FYI - our FOSM trail maintenance crew rarely if
> ever have a need to access the Guard Station as we maintain our own tools
> which we keep at home. We begin our projects with a meeting outdoors in the
> north parking lot at SRD and proceed directly to the project location in
> the Sandias which is always outdoors.  Thanks for informing us of this
> situation and hope the situation is brought under control rapidly.
> Bob Lowder, Crew Leader
> FOSM Trail Maintenance Crew
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On May 15, 2026, at 7:21 PM, Sam Beard via Volunteers_fosm <
> volunteers_fosm at mailman.swcp.com> wrote:
>
> FOSM Members/Volunteers
> 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.
>
>
>
> <Outlook-Forest Ser.png>
>
>
> *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* <Andrew.Ellis at USDA.Gov>
>
> 11776 NM-337
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/11776+NM-337+%0D%0ATijeras,+NM+87059?entry=gmail&source=g>
> Tijeras, NM 87059
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/11776+NM-337+%0D%0ATijeras,+NM+87059?entry=gmail&source=g>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely
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> 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
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