Bear’s Utility Pole Climb in New Mexico Ends Tragically

A bear in rural New Mexico gained viral fame after climbing to the top of a utility pole before tragically dying. The incident occurred near Gladstone, New Mexico, approximately 170 miles east of Santa Fe. On Monday, a video captured the bear nervously perched on the crossarm of the pole, struggling to keep its balance.

The U.S. Department of the Interior shared the video, commenting humorously, “We appreciate the enthusiasm for American Energy Dominance, but this isn’t what we meant.”

A bear climbs a utility pole near Gladstone, New Mexico, captured in a strange encounter. (Shannon Mullens via Storyful)

The incident attracted considerable attention online. Both the Department of the Interior and New Mexico Department of Wildlife did not respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital. Storyful verified the footage, which includes audio of a 911 call about the unusual sight.

“I’m calling to report a bear on top of a light pole,” a caller informs the dispatcher. The dispatcher mentioned that state officials had been alerted but tranquilizing the bear while it was on the pole seemed too risky due to potential fall injuries.

Shannon Mullens, the person who recorded the video, explained to Storyful that she was traveling on Highway 56 from Red River, New Mexico, to Oklahoma when her family noticed what they initially assumed was a dead bear.

“We really didn’t believe what we saw at first, so we turned around to get another look,” Mullens shared.

Upon closer inspection, they realized the bear was still alive, hanging from the pole’s crossarm. Unfortunately, the bear was electrocuted before wildlife officials arrived to manage the situation safely.

Experts note that bears might climb utility poles when scared by people, traffic, or animals, mistaking them for trees in an escape attempt. In contrast, a similar 2021 incident in Arizona concluded with wildlife officials safely rescuing the bear.