A viral video showing a black bear stranded on a utility pole in New Mexico has drawn attention after the animal died from electrocution before rescuers could reach it.
The incident happened near Gladstone in Union County. Motorists spotted the bear stretched across the top of the pole beside live electrical equipment. Some initially thought the animal had died.
Witness Shannon Mullens was travelling on Highway 56 toward Oklahoma when she noticed the bear.
“We really didn’t believe what we saw at first, so we turned around to get another look,” Mullens told Storyful. “At first, we thought that the bear was dead, until we got closer to it and then we realized that he was still alive.”
Bear trapped among live electrical wires
The bear sat about 22 feet above the ground near wires carrying 7,200 volts. Video showed it panting and struggling to position its paws and legs.
Several motorists called emergency services. Dispatchers contacted wildlife officials, law enforcement and the power company.
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Wildlife officers faced a difficult rescue problem. Tranquilizing the bear could have caused it to fall from the pole and endangered people below. The live electrical lines also made approaching the animal dangerous.
Officials asked motorists to leave and give the bear space to climb down on its own.
Remote location complicates rescue effort
Wildlife officials said the closest conservation officer was about 80 miles away. Law enforcement and electric company personnel tried to reach the remote location quickly.
“Due to the remoteness of the location, the closest conservation officer was about 80 miles away,” the department said.
Officials believe something likely startled the bear and caused it to climb the pole as if it were a tree. The animal remained there for about an hour and a half.
Authorities also said some motorists ignored requests to move away.
“However, some members of the public continued to stop next to the power pole to film and take pictures of the bear, so the bear remained at the top of the pole,” the department said.
Viral encounter ends in tragedy
Before responders could safely intervene, the bear came into contact with the electrical equipment and suffered fatal injuries. A conservation officer later removed the animal. Mullens said the outcome left her deeply affected.
“We just felt helpless. There was nothing we could do to help the guy out,” she said. “And hearing that the bear didn’t make it was heartbreaking.”
The footage quickly spread across social media and news platforms. What first appeared to be an unusual roadside encounter soon sparked discussion about wildlife rescue procedures.
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Black bears sometimes climb utility poles when traffic, people or other perceived threats frighten them. They may respond to a pole much as they would to a tree, but electrical equipment creates an added danger.
Wildlife officials advise people not to approach bears and to give distressed animals space. Crowds can make frightened wildlife less likely to retreat safely.
The New Mexico incident has renewed questions about how emergency teams should respond when wildlife becomes trapped around dangerous infrastructure.
