A bear found stranded atop a utility pole in rural New Mexico has died, officials confirmed. The unusual sight was captured on video in Gladstone, New Mexico, on Monday, July 20, and the footage quickly gained traction online, shared widely on social media platforms.
The video shows the bear gripping the crossarm of the pole with its front paws, its hind legs dangling. A caller reporting the incident to 911 was informed by the dispatcher that Game and Fish had been notified, but that tranquilizing the animal would likely prove fatal due to the height and the risk of falling.
Shannon Mullens, who witnessed the event while traveling from New Mexico to Oklahoma on Highway 56, initially thought the bear was deceased until closer inspection revealed it was alive. "We really didn’t believe what we saw at first, so we turned around to get another look," Mullens told Storyful.
The New Mexico Department of Fish and Wildlife later informed The Post that the bear was electrocuted. Wildlife experts suggest that bears, particularly younger or startled ones, may climb utility poles in a manner similar to scaling trees when spooked by people, traffic, or dogs. This behavior can lead to tragic outcomes, as in this instance.
This is not the first time a bear has been found in such a precarious situation. In 2021, a bear in Arizona was safely rescued after becoming stuck atop a utility pole. The U.S. Department of the Interior shared the viral video on X, humorously commenting, "We appreciate the enthusiasm for American Energy Dominance, but this isn’t what we meant."