Elk freed after getting tangled in child's swing

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. — A young bull elk had an adventurous weekend after getting its antlers tangled up in a child's swing.

> The video above is from 2020 when parks officers were looking for an elk that had a tire caught around its neck.

Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) said the two-and-a-half-year-old elk was first spotted on Saturday near the Evergreen Golf Course. The elk then made its way to the Big R store off of Stagecoach Boulevard, then to Kittredge, and was spotted again off Parmalee Gulch Road in Indian Hills Monday morning, CPW said.

A neighbor called in the elk's location and CPW officers were able to get there quickly to tranquilize the elk, CPW said.

Once the elk was sedated, officers tagged the elk and cut the swing away from the animal's antlers, CPW said. Officers also cut off the elk's antlers to keep it from being harvested this hunting season, CPW said.

Officers said the elk had non-typical antlers. This often occurs when the pedicle, or base where the antlers grow, is damaged at an early age, CPW said.

RELATED: CDOT unveils nearly-completed wildlife underpass system along I-25

CPW wants to remind residents to remove items from yards that could entangle big game animals like elk, deer and moose. Wildlife have gotten tangled up in hammocks, soccer goals, volleyball nets, Christmas lights, tires, tomato cages, plastic fencing and other items, according to CPW.

RELATED: Which bulbs you should plant in your garden this fall

RELATED: Tire removed from elk's neck after more than 2 years

SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Animals and Wildlife 

MORE WAYS TO GET 9NEWS 

Subscribe to our daily 9NEWSLETTER for top stories from 9NEWS curated daily just for you. Get content and information right now for can’t-miss stories, Next and Broncos content, weather and more delivered right to your inbox.   

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP
iTunes: http://on9news.tv/itunes
Google Play: http://on9news.tv/1lWnC5n  

HOW TO ADD THE 9NEWS APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE 

ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KUSA. 

For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "9NEWS" to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.