A bear stuck on a utility pole in northeastern New Mexico drew a lot of attention on social media before it was sadly electrocuted.
The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish said a concerned citizen reported seeing the bear near Gladstone on Highway 56. State officials suggested letting the bear come down by itself, and local dispatchers told people to leave it alone.
Traveler Shannon Mullens recorded a video showing the bear balancing on the pole’s crossarm, panting and struggling to stay up several meters above the ground. Mullens filmed this while driving with her family from Red River, New Mexico, to Oklahoma.
Mullens said at first they thought the bear was dead, but as they got closer, they saw it was still alive. Deputies from the Union County Sheriff’s Office came to help, but the bear was fatally injured and died before the power could be turned off or a rescue could happen. Wildlife experts say bears sometimes climb utility poles when startled by people, traffic, or dogs, treating the poles much like trees in an attempt to escape danger.
Public Safety Tips
Officials remind residents to avoid contact with wildlife. Experts advise the public to avoid problems with bears by observing the following:
- Never feed or approach bears.
- Remove bird feeders when bears are active.
- Do not leave food outdoors.
- Clean and store food properly.
If you live in bear country, you can protect your livestock and pets by putting electric fences around their enclosures. Homeowners should also manage waste properly, keep pet food secure, stay away from compost pits, and keep beehives and chicken coops away from the house.
A bear got stranded on top of a telephone pole in Clayton, earning attention on social media before reportedly getting electrocuted.
According to the New Mexico Department of Wildlife, a concerned citizen called to report the sighting in Gladstone. Officials informed them to help the bear come down on its own, while local dispatch instructed residents to leave the bear unbothered.
In a video, the bear is balancing on the crossarm of the pole, panting and struggling to keep its footing several meters above the ground. Shannon Mullens recorded the video, who is traveling with her family from Red River to Oklahoma.
According to Mullens, they thought the bear was already dead, but when they moved closer, they realized it was still alive. The Union County Sheriff’s Office went to the scene, but the bear did not survive and sustained fatal injuries before they arrived.
Meanwhile, wildfire experts say bears sometimes climb utility poles when startled by people, traffic, or dogs, treating them much like trees in an attempt to escape danger.
Experts Reminded Public About Safety Precautions
The public is advised to leave wildlife alone when encountering them. Various safety measures, such as never feeding or approaching them, removing bird feeders when they are active, never leaving food outside, cleaning and storing grills, and informing your neighbors about your recent encounter with a bear, can help avoid conflicts. All these precautionary measures can help guarantee the safety of both people and bears.
Aside from that, property owners can protect their livestock by erecting fencing to keep bears out of their enclosures. Electric fencing has proven to be an effective way to keep their property and their pets safe.
Homeowners in bear county should take the following steps to keep themselves, their property, and their pets safe: properly segregate waste, properly store pet food, maintain proper distance in compost pits, keep beehives and chicken pens away from your house, and clean barbecues after each use.
