Bear cub rescued in Deming's west side neighborhood

DEMING – A neighborhood on Deming’s west side encountered an unwanted visitor on Tuesday, June 7. A juvenile black bear wandered into the city and was spotted near the vacant LULAC Council 205 building.

Witnesses immediately notified Central Dispatch and the City of Deming Code Enforcers Vince Rodriguez and Manny Mesa rushed to the scene at 9 a.m. but were unable to locate the bear. Reports came in that the bear was spotted at Nacio “Herb” Brown Park near the busy intersection of West Spruce and South Eighth Street.

Code enforcers tracked the bear into a neighborhood at the 900 block of West Elm Street. The male bear traveled through yards in the densely populated neighborhood. A reporting party told code enforcers the bear roamed through their yard and took a swipe at the family dog – striking it - before being chased off by the reporting party.

The panicked bear cub eventually climbed a tree in another yard once onlookers noticed the rarity of a wild animal within city limits.

At about 3 p.m., code enforcers and Deming Police secured a perimeter from the public around the tree. Code enforcers were told by NM Game & Fish that if someone stayed at the base of the tree the bear would not come down.

At one point, code enforcement looked at possibly bringing in a cherry-picker or bucket arm to try and coax the bear down, but the area around the tree had too many powerlines in the way.

Once Game & Fish officers arrived on the scene, the decision was made to tranquilize the bear cub with a dart. “It took maybe two to four minutes for the sedative to take effect,” said Deming Police Captain Lou Tavizon.

The bear dropped 15 to 20 feet and was assessed by Game & Fish to be in good health. “The bear was breathing, and eyes were fluttering,” Tavizon said, “an indication that the bear was out and all right.”

The tranquilized cub drew plenty of oohs and ahhs from witnesses on-scene as the bear was caged, tagged, and prepared to be transported back into the wild.

Tavizon estimated the weight of the bear at 75 to 80 pounds. He speculated that the bear may have been traveling with an adult bear that was struck and killed last week on Interstate 10 near Demin.

According to the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish, with current drought conditions and lower than average precipitation this year, bears will travel to new territories and food sources. Towns and neighborhoods can attract various wildlife, including bears, for water and food sources.

Some bear sightings in Luna County in the past have been attributed to New Mexico drought conditions in the forests and a lack of food sources.

Tavizon also speculated that wild animals could also be fleeing the wildfires in New Mexico. Neighboring Grant County on Luna County’s northside, has had its share of wild animals wandering into its towns. It is quite a journey for them to reach Deming.

“The fires may be pushing the animals down,” Tavizon said. "I truly believe this.”

Tavizon urged residence to lock their doors and windows if they see a wild animal. Make sure there is no one out in the vicinity and call the police (575-546-3011).

NM Game & Fish says, everyone can work together to help keep people and bears safe. Here are some ways you can help:

• Keep trash properly contained until the day of pickup, especially if you reside in, or close to, wooded areas.

• Never leave fruit from trees and bushes to rot on the ground. It can be a powerful attractant to bears and other wildlife.

• Remove bird feeders. Bears see them as high-calorie treats, and often they will look for additional food sources nearby.

• Never put meat or sweet-smelling food scraps, such as melon, in your compost pile.

• Don’t leave pet food or food dishes outdoors at night.

• Clean and store outdoor grills after use. Bears can smell sweet barbecue sauce and grease for miles.

• Keep your camp clean, and store food and garbage properly at all times. Use bear-proof containers when available. If not, suspend food, toiletries, coolers and garbage from a tree at least 10 feet off the ground and 6 feet out from the tree trunk.

• Keep your tent and sleeping bag free of all food smells. Store the clothes you wore while cooking or eating with your food.

• Sleep a good distance from your cooking area or food storage site. A distance of at least 100 yards is recommended.

• Never intentionally feed bears to attract them for viewing.

If you encounter a bear:

• Make yourself appear large by holding out your jacket. If you have small children, pick them up so they don’t run.

• Give the bear plenty of room to escape, so it doesn’t feel threatened or trapped. If a black bear attacks you, fight back using anything at your disposal, such as rocks, sticks, binoculars or even your bare hands. Aim for the bear’s nose and eyes.

• If the bear has not seen you, stay calm and slowly move away, making noise so the bear knows you are there. Never get between a mother bear and her cubs.

If you are experiencing a persistent problem with bears, please contact your regional Game & Fish office or contact your local law enforcement for immediate assistance. Visit the department’s website to find contact information for local department offices. For more information about living with bears in New Mexico, please consult Keeping Bears Alive and Yourself Safe.

Bill Armendariz can be reached at 575-494-5059 or biarmendariz@demingheadlight.com.

This article originally appeared on Deming Headlight: Bear cub rescued in Deming's west side neighborhood