Snow strands pueblo people, livestock

ACOMA PUEBLO, N.M. (KRQE) - At Acoma pueblo thousands of cattle and even a few residents are still stranded by deep snow.

The pueblo continues to dig out from last week's blizzards.

Most of the 3,000 cattle on the Acoma pueblo have been isolated since the storms last week with no extra feed or access to unfrozen water.

Ranch hands have not been able to get out there as the extreme cold of the high country keeps the deep snow from melting.

Tractor crews are attacking it, but there are miles to go.

Not only is access important for care of the livestock, but many pueblo residents heat their homes with firewood gathered from the area.

Pueblo leaders board KRQE News 13's Skyranger for a flight to document the impassable areas and plot strategy.

"About 70 to 80 percent of our people at Acoma burn fuel wood, and they harvest it right in the area," Acoma Gov. Randall Vicente said.

A stop at a snowed-in ranch, out of contact for a week, verified that folks there were OK.

As the snow melts in lower areas and tractors clear more, deep mud quickly takes its place.

Pueblo officials said access is still clear to Sky City and the rest of Acoma pueblo on its paved roads.