Bear Electrocuted After Climbing New Mexico Utility Pole in Wild Viral Video [WATCH]

An unusual scene in rural New Mexico turned tragic after a bear that climbed to the top of a utility pole was later electrocuted, according to state wildlife officials, as reported by Fox News.

The incident occurred Monday, July 20, 2026, near Gladstone, a remote area about 170 miles east of Santa Fe.

Video of the bear balancing precariously on the crossarm of the utility pole quickly spread across social media after being captured by a passing motorist.

The bear was seen panting heavily while trying to maintain its footing high above the ground, drawing alarm and fascination from viewers online.

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The U.S. Department of the Interior also shared the footage Wednesday, making light of the situation with the caption, “We appreciate the enthusiasm for American Energy Dominance, but this isn’t what we meant.”

State wildlife authorities and the Department of the Interior did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital about the incident.

The video, verified by Storyful, includes audio of a 911 call placed to report the shocking sight. “I’m calling to report a bear on top of a light pole,” the caller can be heard telling a dispatcher.

The dispatcher explained that wildlife officials were already aware of the situation but noted tranquilizing the bear was too risky since the animal could fall from the pole.

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Shannon Mullens, who recorded the video, was traveling with her family from Red River, New Mexico, to Oklahoma on Highway 56 when they noticed the bear. Mullens said they initially thought the animal was dead before driving back to confirm what they were seeing.

“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.”

The New York Post later reported that the bear was electrocuted and died before wildlife officials could safely intervene.

Experts say that frightened bears sometimes climb utility poles after being startled by humans, vehicles, or dogs, treating the poles as if they were trees in an effort to escape danger.

A similar event in Arizona in 2021 ended with a successful rescue after wildlife workers managed to safely bring down a bear from a utility pole.

The unusual New Mexico encounter has since drawn widespread attention, sparking both fascination and sorrow over the bear’s fate.

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