A disabled widower was mauled to death by a bear that entered his home in Crystal, New Mexico, on August 20. The incident marks the first fatal bear attack in the state since 2001.
Benjamin Halona, 67, was at home when his stepson, Casey, left to run an errand at the post office. Halona, who had recently lost his wife Bernadine to illness in February, was still recovering from a seizure that had left him with mobility issues. While Casey was out, a bear broke into the house. Upon returning, Casey found the door ajar and discovered the bear inside. He barricaded himself in a room and called for help.
Samantha Vandever, a relative, arrived at the scene and honked her car horn, which startled the bear and caused it to flee the residence. The bear was later located and neutralized by the Navajo Police Department.
Halona's niece, Aunya Vandever, stated that her uncle, who used a walker due to his health, was not strong enough to confront the animal and did not provoke it. The Navajo Police Department issued a warning five days after the attack, alerting residents to an increase in bear sightings in the preceding two weeks. Officials attributed this to drought conditions reducing natural food sources, forcing bears to travel further and take greater risks in search of sustenance as they prepare for hibernation.
Residents were advised to keep doors and windows secured and to avoid leaving garbage, livestock feed, or pet food exposed. Halona, who friends affectionately called Ponjo, Mountain Man, and Tamale Man, was remembered as a proud former wildland firefighter for his reservation and a beloved community member known for his tamales. He was buried on a family plot in Crystal.
In a letter to the editor of the Navajo Times, his family shared that his love and teachings would remain with them and that they would honor his memory by carrying his love and lessons forward.