An elk who was seen wandering an Estes Park, CO residential neighborhood with a chair wrapped around her neck was freed — thanks to three Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) officers who immediately sprang into action upon encountering the distressed animal.
It’s unclear how long she had been struggling with the metal folding chair, but since elk are herbivores who mainly dine on grass, shrubs, and tree leaves, the entanglement would turn feeding into a challenge.
Had the CPW officers not spotted the elk in time, and had she wandered back into the forest, it’s possible she could have starved to death. Fortunately, this was not the case.
“Officer Cundall decided to immobilize the elk due to the chair impairing its ability to properly forage for food,” the department’s Facebook said. “This particular elk ended up needing a second dose of immobilizing agent in order to safely remove the chair.”
In a video of the rescue, the tranquilized elk is shown lying under a tree as the officers slowly remove the chair from her body. After the officers give her space to rest, she eventually gets up and ambles away — hopefully to find something to eat.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife notes that seeing a chair wrapped around an elk’s neck is rare but not unheard of.
Putting away loose items that wildlife can get entangled in — such as soccer nets, clotheslines, or hammocks — is essential, especially if you live in an area where animals pass through. By taking these simple steps, you can help safeguard wildlife from distressing incidents.
Lady Freethinker applauds the Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers for being on alert to help this innocent elk return to her wild home unharmed.
