NEWS
Man accused of shooting bear in Northeast Heights
The bear is expected to be OK, but a cub died after being tranquilized and falling from a tree, according to NM Department of Wildlife
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A mother bear is expected to be OK after being shot by a man who claimed she was threatening his dog on Sunday.
New Mexico Department of Wildlife (NMDOW) spokesperson Darren Vaughan said in an email the bear was 鈥渨ounded but not fatally.鈥� One of the bear鈥檚 cubs, however, was killed after it fell from a tree during an attempt to capture it.
"An investigation into the landowner鈥檚 action is ongoing, and potential charges have yet to be evaluated,鈥� he said.
Just before 2 p.m. Sunday, deputies received a call of a person shooting a bear in the 600 block of Roadrunner NE, near Sandia Peak Tramway, Bernalillo County Sheriff鈥檚 Office spokesperson Jayme Gonzales said. (The address is also just north of Black Bear Road and Black Bear Loop.)
One of the man鈥檚 neighbors, Dina Hannah, said in a phone interview that she saw a mother bear and two cubs eating from the man鈥檚 trash bin when he came down from his patio with a rifle.
鈥淚 saw him just calmly lift the rifle and just take a shot,鈥� she said.
Hannah said the bear screamed, then her family and the man yelled back and forth at each other.
鈥淗e was just like, 鈥業 did not shoot the bear. I shot the berm.鈥� And we said, 鈥楾hat鈥檚 a lie. That鈥檚 a lie. You shot the bear,鈥� Hannah said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 like, 鈥榃ell, the bear was attacking my dog,鈥� and we were like, 鈥楾hat鈥檚 a lie.鈥欌��
After NMDOW officers arrived, the mother bear was captured and the cubs climbed into a tree. Officers tranquilized one cub, who then 鈥渂ecame entangled in the branches and suffered injuries from which it could not recover,鈥� Vaughan said.
鈥淲ildlife rescue situations can be unpredictable, and despite using the safest methods available, there are inherent risks,鈥� he said.
Officers then tranquilized the second cub, who 鈥渃limbed down on its own and moved toward the trap where its mother was being held,鈥� Vaughan said.
The mother bear and cub were relocated to 鈥渁 more suitable bear habitat away from populated areas,鈥� he said.
Tension over the shooting spilled onto the Nextdoor website Sunday afternoon and Monday, where dozens of neighbors expressed frustration over the shooting.
New Mexico has seen an uptick in bear activity this year, including in Albuquerque, Santa Fe County and the East Mountains. Wildlife officials said bears have been coming into more populated areas for food and water because of drought.
鈥淯nsecured garbage is the primary cause of most human-bear conflicts,鈥� said Vaughan, who offered suggestions to homeowners such as storing garbage in 鈥渃losed, sturdy cans inside a secure garage鈥� and not putting garbage out the night before a scheduled pickup.
Gregory R.C. Hasman is a general assignment reporter and the Road Warrior. He can be reached at ghasman@abqjournal.com or 505-823-3820.
