Deer tangled in holiday lights in Colorado, photos show. ‘Deck the halls, not the deer’
‘Tis the season for deer and other antlered creatures to get tangled in holiday decorations — unless thoughtful people prevent it, Colorado wildlife officials said.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Southwest Region shared photos of deer with holiday lights tangled around their antlers, which officials say is an annual occurrence.
The animals are especially vulnerable to entanglements this time of year because their antlers are large and fully grown during and after the rut, and bucks rub them against surfaces to mark their territory and to relieve itching from their shedding velvet, McClatchy News previously reported.
“Have you decorated for the holidays this year?” officials said Dec. 9 on social media. “Did you keep antlered wildlife in mind? Deck the halls, not the deer.”
Officials start to get more and more reports of antlered animals tangled in holiday decorations and yard equipment in December.
“While deer are curious and tangle hazards can present themselves at any time, bucks may also spar with and become tangled in swing sets, volleyball nets, bicycles, vegetable-wire cages, hoses and more during the mating season, otherwise known as the rut,” officials said. “Wildlife officers have had to tranquilize and free multiple bucks from netting attached (to) soccer goals, batting cages, gardens and more. Along with these common tangle hazards, holiday lights become a constant hazard to bucks this time of year.”
Residents can help by installing holiday decorations and lights to homes and other structures tightly — no draping them — and attaching them at least 8 feet off the ground, officials said. Lights and decorations should not be draped loosely over shrubs or wrapped around tree trunks because bucks rub their antlers on trunks to sharpen them during the rut, officials said.
Residents should also avoid stringing lights and decorations between trees and bushes where deer roam.
“Our wildlife officers respond to calls every year of deer stuck in various netting and holiday decorations,” CPW Area Wildlife Manager Adrian Archuleta said. “In some cases, these hazards prevent the deer from being able to eat and breathe. Additionally, this causes high levels of stress on the animal and can lead to fatality.”
The public should call a local CPW office if they encounter a tangled deer.
“People should never try to free deer of these hazards themselves because of the serious risk of injury that can be caused by antlers and hooves,” officials said.
The deer rut usually continues through late December, officials said. Drivers should slow down and keep an eye out for deer on highways while bucks pursue a mate and deer are migrating to winter ranges.
This story was originally published December 10, 2024 at 11:22 AM with the headline "Deer tangled in holiday lights in Colorado, photos show. ‘Deck the halls, not the deer’."
