Crystal, New Mexico — A tragic incident involving a black bear has left a community mourning the death of a husband, father, and local firefighter. Benjamin Halona, 67, was killed in his home on the Navajo Nation on August 20 when the bear broke in while he was alone. Family members hope to honor Halona’s legacy rather than focus on the grisly circumstances surrounding his passing.
Halona had recently celebrated his birthday and was recovering from a seizure, which had left him dependent on mobility aids. At the time of the attack, his stepson, Casey, had briefly left the house to run an errand. Upon returning, Casey found a door ajar and the bear inside. In a desperate bid to seek safety, he barricaded himself in a nearby room and called for help.
Two relatives, Gloria Halona and Samantha Vandever, arrived shortly thereafter. They witnessed the aftermath of the bear’s intrusion, but by the time they reached the location, the bear had vacated the premises. Vandever, shocked by the scene, used her car horn to scare the bear away from the property. Local law enforcement was called to the scene, and in the ensuing chaos, officers wounded the bear, which eventually fled into nearby woods and was later neutralized.
The Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed that Halona died from injuries sustained during the attack. The unsettling event marked only the second fatal bear attack in New Mexico in over a century, with the first occurring nearly 25 years prior. This underlying trend of bear encounters has been exacerbated by conditions such as drought, reducing the natural food supply and pressing bears to wander into populated areas.
Halona’s family remembers him as a dedicated wildland firefighter who later gained a local reputation for making and selling tamales. His relatives expressed their grief while underscoring their desire for his contributions to the community to define his memory, rather than the violent end to his life. Family and friends gathered later at The Family Church Assembly of God in Fort Defiance for his funeral, honoring a man they described as resilient and caring.
As bear sightings have increased in the area due to diminishing natural resources, residents are being urged to take precautions to avoid confrontations. The Navajo police and wildlife officials have reiterated that bears can behave unpredictably, and community members should be educated on how to react if they encounter one. Proper measures include securing garbage and keeping food indoors to discourage bears from approaching residential areas.
The larger context paints a troubling picture for wildlife in the region. As of early September, New Mexico’s Department of Wildlife recorded an unprecedented number of bear killings, with a significant rise attributed to human-bear conflicts. Reports of bear incidents have surged, prompting safety responses in various communities, including temporary lockdowns at schools following bear sightings.
As the investigation continues into the circumstances surrounding Halona’s death, both his family and the Navajo Nation community remain in mourning, hoping that future actions will prevent such tragedies from occurring again. The complexities driving wildlife interactions remain a crucial part of broader conversations on environmental management and community safety as the state grapples with increasing pressures on bear populations.