ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – State wildlife officials are investigating a bear encounter that turned violent after a homeowner shot a mother bear in Sandia Heights on Sunday. The New Mexico Department of Wildlife said the shooting occurred in a backyard and that potential charges have not yet been evaluated.
The homeowner, in a statement to KOB 4, said his family had grown increasingly concerned about the bears' brazenness, citing a mauled baby deer found near his child's window and repeated trash intrusions. He said he went outside with a firearm as a precaution and fired a warning shot after the bear growled and swatted his dog.
Neighbor Dina Hannah said she witnessed the shooting from her backyard and confronted the man afterward. Another neighbor, Grace Jandt, noted the bears had been eating cherries from trees and fish from a pond in the area.
While the mother bear survived the shooting, one of her cubs died during the wildlife response. The department said officers tranquilized the cub, but it became entangled in branches and died despite lifesaving efforts. The mother and surviving cub were relocated to a more suitable habitat.
The department's investigation into the landowner's actions is ongoing. The homeowner said he hopes all three bears could be safely relocated and that sharing details would dispel misinformation.
Source: kob.com
