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
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