Tragic update on story of bear stuck on top of telephone pole

 

A heartbreaking update has emerged after a black bear that went viral for becoming stranded atop a utility pole in rural New Mexico.

Keep reading to learn more.

The bear was first spotted on Monday, July 20, perched dozens of feet above the ground on a wooden utility pole near Highway 56 outside Clayton. Shannon Mullens and her family were driving through the area when they initially believed they had seen a dead animal. After turning around for another look, they realized the bear was still alive and appeared exhausted and distressed.

Mullens contacted authorities and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, while other motorists stopped to photograph the unusual scene. Videos of the bear quickly spread across social media, attracting widespread attention and concern for its safety.

Many viewers questioned why officials could not simply tranquilize the animal and bring it safely back to the ground. Wildlife experts, however, explained that doing so could have been extremely dangerous. Because the bear was perched high above the ground, a tranquilizer would likely have caused it to lose consciousness within minutes, potentially resulting in a fatal fall from the pole.

Officials instead hoped the bear would eventually climb down on its own once the area became quiet. Bears are known to climb trees and other structures when frightened, and experts suggested that traffic, barking dogs, and crowds of curious onlookers may have contributed to the animal becoming stranded.