Whether its a massive blowup Santa or a simple string of outdoor lights, Christmas decorations and wildlife can be a bad combination when they come together.
The folks from Colorado Parks & Wildlife recently got a call out of Woodland Park about a buck caught in one of those slack line playsets that you hang between trees to for kids to climb and when they arrived on scene they found the deer in desperate need of help. They took the opportunity issue a quick PSA about removing hazards that can trap, injure and kill animals like deer including items like volleyball nets and holiday decorations.
When you live with wildlife, it's critical to remove hazards that can trap, injure and kill animals.
Sports nets and playgrounds pose chronic threats. Holiday decorations are dangers, too.
Here's why. @COParksWildlife officers found this scene in #WoodlandPark today. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/Tb4PzY1UlT— CPW SE Region (@CPW_SE) November 20, 2024
Bucks often rub their antlers on trees, bushes and other objects and can easily get caught on swings and holiday decor. If you have deer frequenting your property, be mindful to hang your lights higher up in trees where bucks cannot get into them.
CPW Officers Aaron Berscheid and Travis Sauder got a helping hand from the Woodland Park Police Department who tased the buck to immobilize it so it could be safely cut free.
CPW Officers Aaron Berscheid and Travis Sauder found this buck hopelessly tangled in a playground and thrashing dangerously.
Exhausted, it was vulnerable to predators.
With help from @WoodlandParkCO Police, CPW officers tased the buck and cut it free.
Another CPW #rescue! 2/2 pic.twitter.com/SfxfNDi8wo— CPW SE Region (@CPW_SE) November 20, 2024
If you live in place where animals like deer, elk and moose are frequent visitors to your yard and you are planning decking it out for the holiday season, please wrap any lights tightly around trees and post and place them higher than 6 feet off the ground. Also avoid draping lights over bushes and the use of net lights.
Every holiday season the CPW notices an uptick in entanglement related calls and wants folks to take proper precautions to avoid situations like this.
images from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
