Colorado Parks and Wildlife officer rescues elk from ropes course

An elk recently found itself caught in a backyard ropes course in Evergreen, with its antlers tangled in the ropes.

According to an X post from Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Northeast Region, a CPW officer was able to free the elk. The officer opted to dart the elk to remove the ropes caught in its antlers. According to CPW, darts can startle animals but do not hurt them.

The officer cut the elk loose while waiting for the drug to put the elk to sleep so it wouldn't be hanging by its neck. Then he cut the ropes loose from the elk's antlers, gave it a wake-up drug, and sent the elk free.

In the post, CPW cautions people to be aware that rope toys can harm elk. According to CPW and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation , things like volleyball nets, hammocks, hanging lights, and more can be hazardous to elk, as they can get tangled in them. You should try to place lights and other decorations high up or attached tightly to trees and buildings.

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