Two New Mexico motels are the vicitims of a bear break-in over two consecutive days: one in a Raton motel Monday; the other sabotaged a Taos Ski Valley motel.

Officials say the bear that broke into the Raton motel was probably lured by the smell of fresh popcorn.

Desk clerk Kimbra Pacheco says the bear walked in, went over to the payphones, and then toward the pool. Patrons with newspapers chased it through the pool area until game officers arrived, and shot the animal with a tranquilizer dart.

Officers later killed the bear, citing it had been trapped and moved from Raton weeks earlier, losing its fear of humans.

The second bear managed its way through a window screen Tuesday at a Taos motel. The desk clerk called 911, but the bear fled before officers arrived.

The department is saying a recent increase in temperatures, could have forced some bears to look for food in different areas.