Authorities believe a bear killed a 5-year-old Yorkie dog in Sussex County.

Sparta police say that the incident happened on Jan. 19. The owner says that he let his Yorkie named Tommy outside to use the bathroom in the backyard. The dog did not come back when he was called.

Policy say that the owner went outside and saw bear tracks and blood in the snow and found his dog wounded by what are believed to be claw marks.

The owner took the dog to an animal hospital, but he died from his injuries.

Sparta police were not able to locate the bear. The New Jersey Fish and Game Department was notified and will investigate the apparent attack.

This is the second time in as many weeks that a bear is believed to be responsible for the death of a dog in the town.