A man was killed by a bear in Crystal, New Mexico, on Thursday, local police have confirmed. Officers from the Window Rock district of the Navajo Nation police department received a call about the attack at approximately 1pm.
Authorities shot the bear, which then fled into nearby woods. The animal was subsequently located and "neutralized" by authorities. The Navajo police department stated that its criminal investigations and fish and wildlife departments also responded to the scene.
The victim's identity and the type of bear involved have not been released by the police. The department has advised the public to avoid potentially dangerous wildlife and to contact their nearest police district if a bear is spotted.
This incident is reportedly the first fatal bear attack in New Mexico since 2001. That earlier case was the first in the state in a century, according to the Associated Press.