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Drought Leading Bears To Populated Areas

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The state Department of Game and Fish says drought, fire and hunger has driven a lot of bears from their natural habitat into neighborhoods around Santa Fe looking for something to eat.

Department spokesman Dan Williams tells the Santa Fe New Mexican (http://bit.ly/p1biRQ) some died because they had lost their fear of humans.

Williams says wardens will consider killing a bear if it returns three times to an area populated with people, depending on the circumstances.

The state reports 158 bears have been euthanized in New Mexico since April.

Game and Fish biologists estimate there are between 5,300 and 7,000 black bears in the state.

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Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.sfnewmexican.com

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.