Yes, bears are present in New Mexico. The state is home to only one species: the American Black Bear (Ursus americanus). This species is widespread across New Mexico’s diverse landscape, particularly in forested, mountainous regions. Understanding their natural behavior and habitat is the first step toward successful coexistence, requiring residents and visitors to practice specific safety protocols.
New Mexico’s Sole Resident Species
The American Black Bear is the only bear species found in the state. Adult males typically weigh between 250 and 400 pounds, while females are smaller, generally weighing 150 to 180 pounds. Their average length is around five to six feet.
Despite the name, the fur of New Mexico’s black bears is often not black. Cinnamon is the most common color phase, alongside shades of brown, reddish, and blonde. This color variation often leads to misidentification, but the state’s historical Grizzly Bear population was eradicated by the early 1930s. Any bear encountered in New Mexico today, regardless of its color, is an American Black Bear.
Understanding Their Range and Activity
Black bears primarily inhabit the forested mountains, including areas of chaparral and Pinyon–juniper woodlands. They are found across the state’s mountain ranges, from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in the north to the Gila Wilderness in the southwest. The state’s estimated population is several thousand individuals, considered slow-reproducing due to the drier climate.
Their activity is highly seasonal, dictated by food availability and the necessity of preparing for winter denning. Bears emerge from dens around April or May to begin foraging, relying on grasses, insects, and carrion in the spring. Their diet shifts to berries, fruits, and honey in the summer, followed by nuts and acorns in the fall to build fat reserves for hibernation. They are most active during dawn and dusk, though they may forage at any time if food is scarce. Drought or poor natural food harvests can drive bears to lower elevations and into communities like Albuquerque and Santa Fe in search of reliable sustenance.
Essential Guidelines for Coexisting
Safety relies heavily on eliminating human-provided food sources that draw bears into residential areas. Securing property starts with trash management: keep garbage in secured containers inside a garage or storage area until the morning of pickup. Other attractants must be removed or secured, as bears can smell food from over a mile away. This includes pet food, bird feeders, and fallen fruit. Barbecue grills should be thoroughly cleaned after use or stored indoors, and food waste should never be added to compost piles.
In the backcountry, all food, toiletries, and garbage should be stored in bear-proof containers or suspended at least ten feet off the ground and six feet away from the tree trunk. If an encounter occurs, remain calm and avoid running, as this can trigger a chase response. Instead, back away slowly while facing the animal and make yourself appear large by holding a jacket or backpack high.
If a bear has not seen you, slowly move away while making noise to alert it to your presence, but never get between a mother and her cubs. If a black bear attacks, the protocol is to fight back aggressively, aiming for the eyes and nose. The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF) encourages reporting bears that exhibit aggressive behavior or attempt to enter a dwelling, but bears simply moving through an area should be left alone.