Additional Coverage:
- Bear mauls man to death after breaking into his home (themirror.com)
A 67-year-old man from New Mexico was fatally attacked by a bear that entered his home, Navajo authorities have reported.
Benjamin Halona was assaulted around 1 p.m. on August 20 in Crystal, New Mexico, according to the Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife. Halona, who had recently lost his spouse, was contending with health issues that limited his ability to move independently. Family members shared that he had been using a walker and wheelchair while recovering from a severe seizure.
“He was a really strong person,” his sister Gloria said. “And, even though he didn’t have a lot, he was happy.”
On the day of the incident, Halona was alone as his stepson, Casey, had gone out to the post office. Upon returning, Casey found the front door ajar and the bear inside the house. He quickly secured himself in a bedroom, barricading the door with furniture before hiding in a closet crawlspace and calling emergency services.
Gloria and her daughter Samantha received an urgent call from Casey and rushed to the scene, where they encountered the bear outside the home. By honking the car horn, they were able to scare the animal away.
Law enforcement officers who responded later shot and wounded the bear. The animal was tracked into the woods and ultimately “neutralized,” according to the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Unfortunately, Halona had already sustained critical injuries during the attack.
Samantha described the aftermath inside the home as a “horrific scene.” Halona succumbed to his injuries, leaving behind a large family that includes siblings, children, stepchildren, grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.
The attack occurred amid a recent rise in bear sightings across the Navajo Nation. Officials have attributed the increase in bear-human encounters to drought conditions and reduced natural food sources, which drive bears to take greater risks in search of sustenance.
“Food is the cause of most human-bear conflicts,” the Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife stated, underscoring the ongoing challenges posed by wildlife interactions in the region.
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- Bear mauls man to death after breaking into his home (themirror.com)