MORRISON, Colo. (KDVR) — Neighbors in both the Willowbrook and Willowsprings areas in Morrison have spotted two different bucks with holiday lights tangled on their antlers.
“They are just wandering around with Christmas lights stuck around their antlers,” Bree Thompson, Willowbrook neighbor said.
Thompson said she, along with other neighbors, has kept an eye on the two bucks and shared that they have called Colorado Parks and Wildlife to see if anything can be done to help.
“The smaller one with the smaller lights has two cords, well it’s the same the cord wrapped twice around its neck and it seems to be getting tighter so we are worried,” Thompson said.
Thompson shared photos with the FOX31 crew covering the story, and then other neighbors showed the bucks firsthand.
“I saw him yesterday day it is looser on one side so he walks and its getting stuck and he’s trying to pull,” Thompson said.
FOX31 reached out to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, which said they have been observing the bucks and are following protocol.
“We have seen that deer eat and drink on its own,” Kara Van Hoose, Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “We know it looks like its choking him we know it can look kinda alarming but thats why we observe because we don’t want to have to tranquilize an animal if we don’t have to.”
Van Hoose went on to explain that sometimes the situation will take care of itself.
“Most shed their antlers in the winter so that solves their problem anyways,” Van Hoose said.
She went on to explain that as long as the animal is able to drink water, eat and move, they don’t look to step in to help. However, CPW asks people in areas such as Morrison to continue to report what they are seeing.
But some neighbors said they would like CPW to step in with the two bucks.
“Maybe they could come out and intervene sooner than later,” Thompson said.
CPW said some tips for residents to make sure their decorations don’t become a problem are to have them high enough up, make sure they are bolted down, make sure the cords aren’t loose and strings aren’t exposed.
“We want to have a good holiday and decorate and all that but they live here too,” Thompson said.
If people have something like this happening in their neighborhood, they are asked to call either CPW or Colorado State Patrol, who also assist in these situations. CPW also said people should not approach the animals or try and fix anything themselves; however, they can continue to observe and report it to CPW.
“We really have to think about them and accommodate them,” Thompson said.
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife in Denver can be reached at (303) 291-7227, or the Littleton District Wildlife Manager at (303) 791-1954. If people see an animal in urgent need, they are asked to either call 911 or *277 (Colorado State Patrol).