A bear died after bystanders spotted him on top of a power line on Highway 56 in northeast New Mexico. Authorities got several calls about the bear on top of the power line, according to KRQE News. As the utility crew was working to cut off the power to the line, the bear ended up getting electrocuted and died before they could.
Sheriff Curtis Skaggs of Union County, N.M., told the New York Times that the bear was on the ground before the utility crew could act and prevent the bear from getting electrocuted.
KRQE News reported that the state wildlife department fear that public interest and concerns for the bear may have contributed to its death, as stopping to look at the bear might have made it feel unsafe to climb down the pole, leaving it in a dangerous situation for an extended period. They urge the public to provide ample space for both wildlife and people, according to the news outlet.
The video went viral after many bystanders spotted the bear on top of the pole and captured videos of the scene.
Black bears are well known in the state of New Mexico, according to the city of Albuquerque website, and the state animal is a black bear. According to the Museum of Life and Science, bears are excellent climbers, and they can climb on anything that’s wood, like a tree and even a utility pole, for safety (if they perceive danger), to rest and to get food.
