Bear Shot in New Mexico Sparks Outcry | Santa Fe News

A New Mexico man claims he shot a mama bear defending his dog, but neighbors say they saw the bear and her cubs rummaging through his trash—and that he just walked out with a rifle and fired. The bear survived but was wounded; one cub fell from a tree and died, while the other was reunited with its mom. The landowner denies shooting the bear, saying he hit a berm—but witnesses dispute that. Wildlife officials are now investigating, with no charges filed yet. Both the mother bear and surviving cub have been relocated to safety. This incident underscores a growing problem: bears are increasingly entering human areas due to drought, searching for food and water—officials urge everyone to secure their trash to prevent future conflicts. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/f3930c7437172745