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Decorate with deer in mind

Entanglements common during mating season
A buck tangled his antlers in a volleyball net in Durango. During the Christmas season, bucks frequently have unfortunate run-ins with Christmas lights and other holiday decorations.

Rudolph’s antlers strung with lights is a familiar sight. But as you decorate this year, keep the real bucks in mind.

Deer are entering the mating season, and bucks especially are less wary of human-made structures and vehicles.

“Every year big game animals get hung up in items such as volleyball nets, hammocks and Christmas ornaments,” said Matt Thorpe, area wildlife manager for Colorado Parks and Wildlife in Durango. “When that happens it’s very stressful for the animal, sometimes fatal, and it can be dangerous for people.”

Already in November, a large mule deer buck got stuck in the ropes of a batting cage at Durango High School. Fortunately, a passer-by saw the deer and alerted Colorado Parks and Wildlife. A wildlife officer sawed off the animal’s antlers to free it.

To keep bucks safe, attach lights firmly to structures or string them at least 8 feet off the ground. Also, do not drape lights loosely on top of shrubbery or wrap lights around tree trunks.

Other items that can cause problems for deer are clotheslines, trampolines, low-hanging wires, swing sets, tomato cages, plastic fencing and chicken wire. They should be removed if possible, or flagged with long strands of bright surveyor’s tape that might help to keep deer away.

Sometimes animals can free themselves from the material, but most of the time not until winter when antlers are shed naturally. In cases where the objects pose life-threatening danger to the animal, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers may have to tranquilize the animal. But that is stressful, and it can be fatal.

mshinn@durangoherald.com



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