Bobcat scales heights to dodge dog

A bobcat had an identity-changing experience in Sandoval County Friday when it morphed from wildcat to polecat.

A dog chased the animal up a power pole near 20th Street and Northern Boulevard on the fringe of Rio Rancho, according to officers with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.

The officers tried to scare it down with exploding darts because they feared a nasty outcome.

"Seventy-thousand-watt transformer there, lots of power," Officer Ross Morgan told KRQE News 13. "It could have definitely done some damage to the pole, the neighborhood, and the bobcat as well."

A PNM crew showed up with a cherry picker to cut power so the game officers could tranquilize and bag the bobcat.

However that turned out to be unnecessary. When it got dark, the animal climbed down on its own and took off.