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Cedar Crest (KOAT) — Five bear sightings have been reported in metro areas across New Mexico and southern Colorado within the past 24 hours, including incidents in Santa Fe, and Albuquerque.
In Cedar Crest, a man was bitten by a bear while walking his dog. Authorities said his injuries were non-life-threatening, and more details on the encounter are pending.
In Albuquerque’s Northeast Heights, officers tranquilized a bear cub found outside a woman’s home. According to protocol, bears found in urban New Mexico areas are released back into the wild, away from people.
Early Wednesday in the foothills, a security camera captured a bear in a backyard. The footage showed the bear jumping on patio furniture and looking into windows before running off.
In Santa Fe, park rangers found a bear at Ashbaugh Park. They tranquilized the animal and relocated it to a wilderness area in northern New Mexico. Video showed a team lifting the bear and loading it into a cage.
In Durango, Colorado, police drone footage captured a bear along Third Avenue. The bear walked across the street, lingered on a patio, and eventually returned to the wilderness. Durango police said the bear was searching for fruit from a tree.
Officials are reminding residents to take precautions, as bears are intelligent and can be dangerous. Residents are advised to secure their trash, remove bird feeders, and lock doors, as bears can open sliding glass doors.
If you encounter a bear, experts recommend backing away slowly without making sudden movements. They advise against approaching the animal and say, if attacked, to fight back.
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