Advertisement Sullivan woman says hungry bear chased, killed llama Wildlife officials say bears searching for food after winter Share Shares Copy Link Copy

A Sullivan woman said she's in shock that a bear jumped over her fence, scared her llama and ended up chasing and killing it.Click to watch News 9's coverage.Crystal Rokes said bears have been on her property before but never this close to her animals. Wildlife biologists said such an attack is rare, but it's the time of year that bears are very hungry and more likely to get close to humans.Experts said bears lose one-third of their body fat over winter. While they don't usually go after livestock, they might smell something that attracts them to homes and farms.Rokes said footprints in the mud show where the bear jumped her fence."I think all the animals were over here by the footprints," she said. "There are deep prints where the horse got wound up and excited. ... The bear prints were clearly running this way. You can see them in the mud."Possibly spooked by the bear, Francois the llama jumped the fence and ran."And I know a bear's instinct is when something is running, they chase it," she said. "That's why they tell you to never run."The Rokes have several animals and didn't realize the llama was missing until afternoon. They searched for it, and a neighbor eventually found the body on the other side of the property by the fence.Wildlife biologist Rob Calvert said birdfeeders and food bowls commonly attract bears this time of year. Rokes said she had bird seen on the second floor of her home, but nothing but hay for the llamas."You may want to use air horns, whistles or make noises that make (bears) less comfortable," Calvert said.Rokes said she was also told to play talk radio because the voices can scare off a bear. She said she plans to spray ammonia along the fence, as well."I don't want any harm to come to a bear for their natural instinct, but I just want people to be aware and protect what they have got, because you just don't think it's ever going to happen to you," she said.The Fish and Game department said people who lose livestock to bears can receive compensation. Victims need to write a letter to the department, which then investigates and determines how much money will be paid out.