A viral video captured near Gladstone, New Mexico, shows a bear perched atop a utility pole, highlighting an unusual wildlife encounter that ended in the animal’s electrocution, according to reports verified by Storyful and covered by outlets including the New York Post. The incident, recorded on Monday roughly 170 miles east of Santa Fe along Highway 56, drew widespread online attention after motorists spotted the animal high above the ground.
The Incident Near Gladstone, New Mexico
Motorist Shannon Mullens was traveling with her family from Red River, New Mexico, to Oklahoma when they spotted the animal on the structure. According to Mullens’ account provided to Storyful, they initially believed the form belonged to a dead bear before turning around for a closer look and realizing the animal was still alive. Audio from a 911 call included in the verified footage captures a caller telling a dispatcher about the bear on the light pole. The dispatcher notes that state officials had already been notified, warning that tranquilizing the animal while it remained elevated could cause a dangerous fall. Before wildlife personnel could execute a rescue, the bear was electrocuted and died, as reported by the New York Post.
Federal Social Media Response and Wildlife Context
The U.S. Department of the Interior re-shared the video on Wednesday, adding the remark, “We appreciate the enthusiasm for American Energy Dominance, but this isn’t what we meant.” Wildlife experts explain that bears frequently climb utility poles when startled by people, traffic, or domestic dogs, treating the artificial structures much like trees in their search for safety. Neither the U.S. Department of the Interior nor the New Mexico Department of Wildlife immediately responded to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.
Comparison With Prior Rescues
While the New Mexico incident ended fatally, similar wildlife encounters have resulted in successful interventions elsewhere in the American Southwest. In 2021, wildlife officials in Arizona safely rescued a bear that had climbed a utility pole, demonstrating a different outcome for a comparable human-wildlife conflict.
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