A motorist has captured incredible footage of a brown bear stranded on top of a power pole in New Mexico in the United States, with the video racking up thousands of views on social media.
The footage, posted on X, was reshared by the US Department of the Interior.
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“We appreciate the enthusiasm for American Energy Dominance, but this isn’t what we meant,” the department said.
The video shows the panicked bear gripping the crossarm of the power pole with its front paws while struggling to hold on.
The person recording the video can be heard explaining the situation a 911 operator, who says they have already been in touch with officers from the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The operator explains that if the department was to tranquilise the bear, it would likely fall and die.
Tragically, the bear later died from electrocution.
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Wildlife experts told news media that bears can become startled or spooked by people, traffic or dogs, causing them to scale utility poles like they would a tall tree to escape danger.
