Stuck deer exhausted from thrashing is freed from CO school’s batting cage. See rescue
A buck became severely tangled in an enclosed batting cage at a Colorado high school and exhausted itself trying to get free, officials said.
Photos show the buck entangled in the sports netting with tufts of fur strewn around the ground, likely from the animal’s thrashing.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Southwest Region shared the photos on X, formerly known as Twitter. The agency has rescued several bucks from similar entanglements in recent weeks, McClatchy News previously reported.
“Oh deer,” the agency said in the Dec. 4 post. “We’ve got another tangled buck rescue to share from this morning. This buck got tangled in netting at Durango High School.”
A photo from another angle shows the buck’s large antlers lodged into a torn knot of netting that droops down over its face and eyes.
“The buck was exhausted and stressed from trying to break out of the entanglement,” the agency said.
A small team of wildlife officers darted the deer and cut the netting away from its antlers.
“Soon after, the deer was back on its feet,” the agency said. “Thanks to the quick reporting and actions of our wildlife officers, this buck will live to see another rut.”
Video shows the buck casually strolling out of the opening in a tall chain link fence around the school’s sports complex. Its troublesome antlers just fit through the opening.
The season of wildlife tangle hazards
“We talk about tangle hazards a lot this time of year,” Colorado Parks and Wildlife said. “There’s still time to be a good neighbor to wildlife and remove potential tangle hazards from your property. And don’t create more with your holiday decorations this season!”
The animals are especially vulnerable to entanglements this time of year because their antlers are large and fully grown after the rut, and bucks rub them against surfaces to mark their territory and to relieve itching from their shedding velvet, KOIN reported.
“Hammocks, garden equipment and recreational sports equipment such as soccer and volleyball nets all present potential danger to wildlife, especially antlered deer, elk and moose,” Colorado Parks and Wildlife said in an October news release. “But even more obscure objects such as tires and bucket lids can become inconvenient accessories to curious animals that venture close to human-occupied spaces.”
The agency recommends homeowners clean up their yards periodically and remove anything that a curious creature might stick its nose in or get wrapped up or tangled in.
“And when you’re putting up various holiday decorations, keep wildlife in mind,” the agency said. “We see animals get wrapped up all the time, and all of these impairments can affect their mobility, vision and ability to eat and drink” — and can ultimately lead to injury or death for the animals.
“Poor thing!” someone said in the comments. “I was wondering how in the world you would free it. Glad you were able to dart him and get him on his way…thank you!”
Durango is located in the southwest corner of the state, about a 315-mile drive southwest from Colorado Springs.
This story was originally published December 5, 2024 at 12:03 PM with the headline "Stuck deer exhausted from thrashing is freed from CO school’s batting cage. See rescue."
