A black bear that climbed to the top of a utility pole in rural New Mexico was electrocuted and died before wildlife officials could safely rescue the animal, according to reports. The incident, recorded on Monday near the small community of Gladstone, about 170 miles east of Santa Fe, has drawn widespread attention after video of the bear precariously perched on the pole's crossarm went viral.
The footage, verified by Storyful, shows the bear panting and struggling to maintain its balance high above the ground. The U.S. Department of the Interior shared the video on social media Wednesday, adding a lighthearted comment: «We appreciate the enthusiasm for American Energy Dominance, but this isn't what we meant.» The department did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.
Shannon Mullens, who recorded the video, told Storyful she was traveling from Red River, New Mexico, to Oklahoma on Highway 56 when she and her family spotted what they initially believed was a dead bear. «We really didn't believe what we saw at first, so we turned around to get another look,» Mullens said. «At first, we thought that the bear was dead, until we got closer to it, and then we realized that he was still alive.»
The audio from the video also includes a 911 call reporting the unusual sight. «I'm calling to report a bear on top of a light pole,» the caller tells a dispatcher. The dispatcher responded that state officials had already been notified but noted that tranquilizing the animal while it remained atop the pole could have caused it to fall, potentially injuring the bear further or endangering people below.
Wildlife experts say bears can climb utility poles after becoming startled by people, traffic, or dogs, treating the poles much like trees while trying to escape danger. In this case, the bear's attempt to find safety ended tragically when it came into contact with live electrical equipment. The New York Post reported that the bear was electrocuted before wildlife officials could intervene.
The New Mexico Department of Wildlife did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The incident highlights the growing challenges of human-wildlife interactions, particularly as development encroaches on natural habitats. Bears and other large animals increasingly encounter infrastructure such as power lines, roads, and buildings, leading to dangerous situations for both animals and humans.
A similar incident in Arizona in 2021 ended more positively when wildlife officials safely rescued a bear that had climbed a utility pole. In that case, crews were able to tranquilize the animal after it descended to a lower height, allowing it to be captured and relocated without injury. The contrasting outcomes underscore the risks and complexities involved in such rescues.
Gladstone, located in Union County in northeastern New Mexico, is a sparsely populated area characterized by open plains and ranching. The region is home to a variety of wildlife, including black bears, which are known to roam widely in search of food, especially during dry periods when natural food sources are scarce.
Wildlife officials often advise residents in bear-prone areas to secure trash, remove bird feeders, and avoid leaving pet food outside to reduce the likelihood of bears venturing into populated areas. Encounters with bears can be dangerous, but experts emphasize that the animals are typically more frightened of humans than humans are of them.
The viral video has sparked discussion on social media about the need for better wildlife management and infrastructure design to prevent such incidents. Some commenters have called for utility companies to install protective barriers on poles in areas with high wildlife activity, while others have noted the difficulty of balancing human infrastructure with animal safety.
As of Thursday, the New Mexico Department of Wildlife had not released further details about the bear or any plans to address similar situations in the future. The incident serves as a reminder of the unintended consequences of human development on wildlife and the ongoing need for coexistence strategies.
