Earlier this month, staff members at the Sangre de Cristo Power Company in Buena Vista, Colorado, received an urgent phone call from Colorado Parks and Wildlife officer Justin Krall. The officer told power company staff about a bear cub stuck at the top
of the electric pole nearby.
Luckily, the Sangre De Cristo workers knew just what to do.
“Those guys were excellent,” Krall told The Dodo. “I give those guys all the credit in the world. They responded immediately.”
At this point, Krall had already spent hours trying to get the bear cub to safety after she was spotted in a nearby landfill. Earlier that day, when Krall tried to contain her, the terrified cub fled up the pole and was electrocuted, sending her crashing back to the ground. When she woke, she climbed right back up. This time, Krall had a different plan.
“[Power company workers] brought a bucket truck out, made sure the lines were safe and turned off and double-checked everything before proceeding,” Krall said. “They allowed me
to get into the bucket truck after securing me with the appropriate harness for safety.”
Once level with the cub, Krall used a dart to sedate her. Rescue team members maneuvered the bear into the bucket truck and brought her back to the ground.
Krall made sure the bear was cool and stable and gave her water once she woke up. The officer coordinated with team members at Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Frisco Creek Wildlife
Rehabilitation Center, who provided the cub with a temporary home.
Rescuers are still looking for the cub’s mother, in hopes they may be reunited. If they can’t find her, the little cub doesn’t have to worry; she’ll be safe with experts at the rehabilitation center who have her best interests at heart.
Thanks to the efforts of so many dedicated animal advocates, this baby bear is welcoming a new chapter.
