In the midst of trying to survive a drought and serious wildfires, New Mexico residents have a new concern: bears.
With their native habitats being destroyed, bears are moving into neighborhoods earlier than usual, according to KRQE.
“Our large animals are ... smart enough to move out of the way and get out of the area when there are fires in the area,” Nick Forman, carnivore and small mammal program manager for the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, told KRQE. “With the droughts, what bears and other large animals are really keying in on are food sources and then water sources too.”
The drought has been a continuing problem, not just this year, but also in past years which have been among the driest on record for the area, KRQE reported. The dire environmental conditions have forced bears to migrate into populated areas they would normally avoid, looking for sources of food and water.
“What we have in our neighborhoods then and in our yards is, we have a constant source of water,” Forman said. “We’re always kind of growing things so that can attract them and bring them in.”
Bear sightings are already being reported. Forman said he gets called about bears throughout the year, but not in the winter when they are hibernating. Fires and drought can alter a bear’s normal habits.
“Bears can move a really long distance,” Forman said. “We’ll definitely expect abnormal movements in these areas where these fires [are]. And you might see bears coming into areas where we haven’t seen [them] before.”
Officials warned people to be wary of bears in their neighborhoods, according to KRQE. Residents should take down bird feeders and not leave trash or pet food outside. Remain calm and call local authorities if you see a bear.
