By Roger Rael
THE RATON RANGE
RATON, N.M. — Raton had a few unexpected breakfast guests Tuesday morning, and apparently nobody told them the kitchen was closed.
A mother bear and her two cubs wandered into a residential area near 400 E. Maxwell Avenue and discovered what may have looked, from a bear’s point of view, like the finest buffet in northeastern New Mexico: an outdoor refrigerator stocked with food.
The menu reportedly included watermelon, oranges, bread, eggs, and even soda. In other words, the bears skipped the continental breakfast and went straight for the deluxe package.
Residents quickly became aware of the visitors, and the Raton Police Department, along with New Mexico Department of Game and Fish personnel, responded to the area. Officers helped secure the neighborhood, particularly as morning school traffic began moving nearby.
Despite the unusual sight, officials worked carefully to protect both the public and the animals.
The mother bear was tranquilized as wildlife officers prepared to remove the family from the neighborhood. The cubs were later reunited with their mother, and all three bears were safely relocated to a more appropriate mountain area south of Raton.
Most importantly, none of the bears were injured.
The incident provided a little excitement for the neighborhood, but it also served as a reminder that Raton sits in bear country. Wildlife does not recognize property lines, fences, or the difference between a refrigerator in the woods and one sitting conveniently outside somebody’s house.
Food left outdoors, pet food, garbage and other strong-smelling items can attract bears into populated areas, especially when natural food sources are limited.
Fortunately, Tuesday’s encounter ended the way everyone hoped it would: residents remained safe, officers kept the area under control, and the bear family left town together.
By Tuesday night, the neighborhood had settled back down.
No roaring crowds. No barking dogs. No bears checking the refrigerator for leftovers.
Somewhere south of Raton, however, one mother bear may still be wondering why room service suddenly stopped delivering watermelon.
For Raton, it was another reminder that life along the edge of the mountains occasionally comes with paws, claws, and a very determined appetite.
