The footage, July 25 -- SANTA FE - Shannon Mullens was driving from Red River, New Mexico to Oklahoma along Highway 56 when she saw the bear on the utility pole. She pulled over. The animal was alive, balanced on the metal crossarm roughly 30 feet up, panting in the summer heat. She started filming.

the bear did not come down alive. It was electrocuted before rescuers could reach it safely.

The response had already begun when Mullens stopped. She could hear 911 dispatch audio in the background as she filmed. Dispatchers noted that state wildlife officials had been alerted but had reached a difficult conclusion: tranquilizing the bear while it remained on the pole was too dangerous. "State officials had already been notified but said tra...