Officials Confirm Lion Killed Man

The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish has issued a press release confirming that a lion killed the New Mexico man found partially eaten in southwest New Mexico. Read the release here.

An autopsy confirmed that the man died from injuries suffered in a mountain lion attack north of Silver City.

Conservation officers and USDA Wildlife Services agents are using dogs and snares to catch the lion.

Officers found the body of Robert Nawojski, 55, June 20, but believe he was killed late June 17 or early June 18.

Family members said the man liked to shave and bath on a rock ledge about 60 yards from his small trailer. It is believe he was killed just below the ledge, then dragged a short distance, partially eaten and then covered.

State wildlife officials say such attacks are very rare, but could become more common.

"Attacks by wildlife may become more frequent as our growing population expands into the urban-wildland interface," said Rick Winslow, the state's large carnivore biologist. "New Mexico has a healthy population of mountain lions and people who live around them must learn to take precautions and avoid dangerous encounters."

The death is the second in the state's history. An 8-year-old boy was killed while playing in Arroyo Seco in north-central New Mexico in 1974. In that case, the lion was an emaciated female that weighed only 47 pounds when it was later killed by a neighbor.