Startled bear cub dies when it’s electrocuted climbing utility pole, CO officials say

A bear cub died scavenging for food in trash bins after one tipped over, startling the bear so much it scrambled up a utility pole and was electrocuted, officials said.

It isn’t the first time that’s happened, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials said in a May 9 post on Twitter.

“Garbage kills another bear,” officials said in the post. “See the garbage bin on (its) side today in Manitou Springs? A bear cub was in the bin when it became startled. It raced up the power pole and was electrocuted.”

Manitou Springs is about five miles northwest of Colorado Springs.

Black bears are wary of unfamiliar things and people, and they’ll run away or climb a tree when they perceive danger, officials said on the agency’s website.

They’re also “curious, intelligent, and very resourceful” and “will explore all possible food sources,” officials said.

Black bears have memories nearly as keen as their sense of smell, meaning not only can they smell food from five miles away, but they’ll remember where they’ve found food before and will come back searching for more, officials said.

“If they find food near homes, campgrounds, vehicles, or communities, they’ll come back for more,” officials said.

In the months leading up to hibernation, they need 20,000 calories per day “to gain enough fat to survive the winter without eating or drinking,” and they’ll work hard to get it, officials said.

The state offers a grant for communities that want to bear-proof homes, businesses, and other areas to cut down on conflicts between people and bears — as those conflicts have increased recently, officials said.

“Lock your garbage! Be Bear Aware. Keep cubs alive,” officials said in the post on Twitter.

People shared frowning emojis in comments on the post.

“Unbelievable! Poor baby, humans should do better!” someone said.

Someone else suggested mandating bear-proof containers for homes west of Interstate 25, which runs north and south and divides the mountains — where bears are more common — from the state’s urban areas.

“PLEASE tell me the homeowner was cited!!” they said. “Bear proof containers mandatory west of I-25 (honestly should be mandatory (for) the entire city, at the least) and obviously wasn’t bear proof! Poor, sweet little cub.”

Bear euthanized after entering home three times in a week, Colorado officials say

Beloved mountain lion cubs who became cuddle buddies after rescue move to new CA home

Watch these black bear cubs dash to keep up with mom at Colorado state park. ‘So cute’