The fence runs along Interstate 40, from the eastern edge of Carnuel through Tijeras and, when all phases are completed, it will go to the Zuzax exit. It is designed to allow animals to pass through drainage tunnels under the freeway rather than risk being hit by cars.

Tijeras Mayor Gloria Chavez said that she'd like to know whether animals are becoming trapped in the area due to the wildlife fence, if it's doing more harm than good. Officials from the Game and Fish Department and Department of Transportation who have worked on the project don't seem to hear those concerns from village residents, she said.

"They don't seem to notice," she said. "There are incidents, and unfortunately they are not being reported."

Mark Watson of the Game and Fish Department agreed, but said he hopes to gather as much information as possible.

"That's sort of been the problem all along," he said. "If it happens on (Old) Route 66, the carcasses are picked up and harvested for meat … it's difficult to document everything."

He said the evidence that has been gathered indicates the project is working, however. There have not been any collisions involving large game along the fenced area of the freeway since mid-summer, as far as he knows. Accidents of that sort may be reduced even further now that a hole in the fence near a group of dense trees at mile marker 170 is being patched.

Watson said Jimmy Chavez, who has been a vocal opponent of the fencing project and is married to Gloria Chavez, made him aware of another issue on Old Route 66 near a gravel pit in the Carnuel area.

He found the remains of two deer there and said the animals apparently became caught in the area of an underpass near Carnuel known as dead man's curve. Watson said it's possible the deer got in through a gated fence nearby that leads into a gravel mine.

That's not the only issue that's been brought up. Game and Fish officials have been called out to Roosevelt Middle School on occasion over the last few years to help deal with animal sightings. Most recently, a bobcat was seen near the school.

Gloria Chavez said she is concerned about an increase in animal activity that is posing a threat to the children.

"We just don't want a child to become the first one (attacked) and say, 'Well, look, we should have paid more attention,' " she said.

Roosevelt Middle School Principal Cee Kay Nation said her school took the incident seriously and the children had escorts during the incident to keep them safe. She added that trash cans around the school are emptied daily and children are no longer allowed to eat outside to avoid attracting hungry animals.