Bears in the wild often climb the top of the trees. First, it helps the animals to orient themselves in the terrain. Secondly, animals look for birds’ nests, because eggs are an excellent treat for them.
It is probably because of their instincts in relation to trees that bears try to climb electric poles. But the danger from them cannot be compared even with the tallest tree. The fact is that the animal can receive an electric shock or become entangled in the wires.
Part of US Hwy 191 was briefly closed Sun. am while AZGFD Tucson, Douglas PD, Cochise SO and US Border Patrol drove off a bear that had climbed two utility poles. Two dozen onlookers scattered when the bear climbed down on its own. AZPS stood by, as the bear risked electrocution. pic.twitter.com/RkL2W197Cw
— AZ Game & Fish Dept (@azgfdTucson) May 9, 2021
That is why there are entire rescue teams that help to remove bears such places. One of these operates in Arizona. For some mysterious reasons bears most often climb on poles in this American state.
The rescue procedures are usually recorded on video. It all starts with a power outage so that any movement of the bear does not threaten it with death. Then people climb the pole with the help of a long stick and in that way the rescuers or electricians push the bear down.
Warner Newbauer and Efren Gallego
of the Sulphur Spring Valley Electric Co-op coaxing a young bear off a utility pole in Willcox yesterday.
They cut power to the pole before going up in their boom truck basket. The bear, likely startled up the pole, then moved off uninjured. pic.twitter.com/BIjetTHsja— AZ Game & Fish Dept (@azgfdTucson) June 8, 2021
The locals are sympathetic to the power outage caused by sluggish bears. Fortunately, bears are far from people, so they descend from the poles rather quickly. The whole thing hardly takes more than a quarter of an hour.
