For many people, one of the appeals of living in Montana is having access to wildlands right out the back door, but that access can also bring confrontation with wildlife.
Law enforcement across the state say it’s not unusual this time of year to see deer that have gotten their antlers caught in Christmas lights or other yard decorations.
Helena Police say issues with urban deer can happen at any time of the year and they have seen everything from deer stuck in deck railings to volleyball nets.
If the item wrapped around their antlers isn’t turning them or preventing them from eating, officers may leave the deer alone since the antlers will drop over the winter.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks caution people to not approach a deer that may be stuck since it may cause the deer stress, to hurt itself, or attack .
“These sort of things happen with animals around town, but the best thing to do is just to give the deer [or any other animal] their space,” said FWP spokesperson Greg Lemon.
If a person comes across a deer or any other animal that has gotten caught or stuck in something, they are encouraged to call their local law enforcement as soon as possible.
-Reported by John Riley/MTN News
