SUTTON, W.Va. — It was an “unusual” situation, according to a Mon Power Company crew that had to rescue a bear cub stuck on top of a utility pole in Braxton County.
On April 18, a Sutton woman reported a baby bear was perched on top of the 40-foot pole just before dawn.
Before arriving at the site, lineman Bobby Hart de-energized equipment that was attached to the pole, so he and fellow line worker Derrick Kniceley could safely rescue the cub.
Todd Meyers, a Mon Power spokesman, said it was a two-hour task, but Hart eventually climbed the pole and saved the bear.
“He took her by the scruff of the neck and then brought her back down to the ground,” said Meyers.
He said the bear was lucky in this situation because it made its way up the pole without coming into contact with any live lines.
“Had she come into contact with it, it would’ve been pretty unfortunate,” said Meyers. “It probably would’ve killed her.”
The bear cooperated with the crew the entire time. Meyers said workers are very caring and dedicated to their jobs even during an odd assignment like this.
“We have good guys out there,” he said.
The bear is now housed in a den with a foster mother in Pendleton County.