Estes Park, Colorado, may be home to more than 6,000 people but it’s also prime stomping grounds for big numbers of elk. Locals are more than used to seeing the wild wapiti make their way out of the mountains and into the city limits. With that comes conflict and issues.
In mid-December 2021, wildlife officials answered a call about two bull elk with antlers intertwined with fencing material. The two animals were both attached to a tree and each other. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Officer Chase Rylands and Larimer Deputy Sheriff Isaac Mercantonio teamed up to set them free. Rylands tranquilized both elk and the two of them worked to completely cut away and remove the fencing from their antlers.
Though exhausted from the incident, the elk returned to their feet after receiving a reversal drug and are expected to make a full recovery.
CPW reminds homeowners to remove any material from their land that may cause issues for wildlife.
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(Photo credit: Colorado Parks and Wildlife)