GLADSTONE, NEW MEXICO, July 23 (Amarillo Times) — A bear that was filmed perched atop a utility pole near Gladstone, New Mexico, died before state responders could reach the scene, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish said.
The agency said it was notified around 10 a.m. Monday, July 20, and told the person who reported the bear to leave it alone so it could come down on its own. It also asked local dispatchers to pass that instruction along.
In 911 audio heard in the video, a caller reported the bear on a light pole. The dispatcher said tranquilizing it while it remained on the pole could cause it to fall, according to the recording.
The department said some people stopped near the pole to film and take pictures while the bear stayed at the top. It said the Union County Sheriff’s Office, the power company and wildlife conservation officers were notified, but the animal sustained fatal injuries before they arrived.
