Watch as mama mule deer is freed from bucket lid and returns to her fawns in Colorado
A mama mule deer roamed Colorado for weeks with the lid of a bucket stuck around her neck, wildlife officials said.
Concerned residents kept reporting her predicament, which helped a Colorado Parks and Wildlife officer in the southwest region track her down, the agency said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“We finally caught up to a mule deer doe we’ve been wanting to help for weeks!” the agency said in the Sept. 3 post. “This doe was living with a bucket lid around its neck, and we had been getting reports dating back to Aug. 12.”
Multiple photos show the doe’s predicament, and while officials didn’t say whether the bucket lid was impeding her ability to eat, the animal appears thin with several ribs showing.
Wildlife managers had tried several times to find the doe so they could tranquilize her and remove the lid. Then an officer was finally able to do it on Sunday, Sept. 1, the agency said.
Videos show the officer pulling at the lid and then waking her up after she was free.
“The deer was issued ear tags so hunters know the animal has recently been tranquilized — trading a necklace for some earrings,” the agency said. “Shortly after the lid was removed, the deer was given a reversal drug and was back on its feet.”
The deer then reunited with her two fawns, which had stayed close as the officer helped their mother, a photo shows.
“It was only thanks to the Pagosa/Aspen Springs community for keeping an eye out and for the multiple folks who care deeply about our wildlife making reports that we were able to track this deer down,” the agency said.
“Sweet mama!” someone commented. “Glad you were able to help her!!”
This story was originally published September 3, 2024 at 6:32 PM with the headline "Watch as mama mule deer is freed from bucket lid and returns to her fawns in Colorado."
