Image: new_mex_bear_maul

A 67-year-old New Mexico man was attacked and killed by a black bear that broke into his home. (Image by Joseph DeSanto)

A black bear entered the New Mexico home of a 67-year-old man and fatally mauled him.

According to abcnews4.com, the bear broke into Benjamin Halona’s home in Crystal River around 1 p.m. on August 29. Halona, who’d recently become a widower and suffered a seizure, was depending on a walker and wheelchair during his recovery.

"He was a really strong person," said his sister, Gloria Halona. "And, even though he didn't have a lot, he was happy."

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Gloria Halona said, on the day of the attack, Benjamin Halona’s stepson had returned from the post office when he found the door ajar and the bear in the home. He then barricaded himself in a room, hid in a crawlspace and called for help. Halona died from his injuries, and law enforcement neutralized the bear.

The Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife has reported an increase in bear sightings this year, with officials saying bears have less natural food due to drought and low moisture. Therefore, bears have been forced to travel farther and take greater risks while searching for food and preparing for hibernation.