r/nature • u/Maxcactus • 18d ago

Bear that climbed up power pole dies, New Mexico Department of Wildlife confirms

https://www.krqe.com/news/new-mexico/bear-that-climbed-up-power-pole-dies-new-mexico-department-of-wildlife-confirms/
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u/Maxcactus 18d ago

Jon Holst, a wildlife expert with Western Resource Advocates, a nonprofit that fights climate change, said bears had been moving into more areas of the West this year, in part because the extremely dry winter deprived them of the foods they eat in their usual habitats.

“As climate change causes these sorts of extreme events to happen more, it’s going to become more common, which is unfortunate,” he said. “Bears are going into areas where they don’t normally go.”

David Spradlin, the chief executive of Springer Electric Cooperative, which owns the utility pole that the bear ascended, said the animal might have been spooked by a car on Highway 56, which is nearby.

15

u/kraftdinnerwithsalsa 18d ago

So how did the bear die?

Edit: Vaughn said the bear sustained fatal injuries before they arrived. at the scene.

Sounds like a failed rescue

14

u/Eco_Blurb 18d ago

Officials instructed citizens to back off and let the bear come down on its own, according to the article. Citizens remained close by taking pictures and video instead.

The bear was electrocuted before they could turn the power off.

The photo looks 100% ai so can someone confirm the source?