Young elk was twisted in tarp and stuck in Colorado ditch before rescue, photo shows

Someone spotted a young bull elk tangled in tarp while stuck in a Colorado ditch, and state wildlife officers are thankful the resident reported the animal in distress.

Officers with Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Northeast Region were called to the west side of Loveland on Monday, April 4, according to a Twitter thread.

Video from the department shows the elk “blowing bubbles in the water (and potentially inhaling it)” as he was stuck in the blue tarp.

“The tarp was so twisted that wildlife officers ended up cutting it with a knife on a pole near his face to relieve his nose & mouth,” officials said.

After cutting the animal free, “they noted that the elk would be just fine.”

A second video shows the elk running free following the rescue.

Loveland is about 50 miles north of Denver.

This story was originally published April 5, 2022 at 6:57 PM with the headline "Young elk was twisted in tarp and stuck in Colorado ditch before rescue, photo shows."