WATCH: Wildlife Officials Rescue a Doe From a Broken Bucket Lid

A mule deer doe somehow got a bucket lid stuck around her neck, and wildlife officials tried for weeks to track her down and rescue her from the lid. Earlier this week, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Southwest Region announced they successfully got it off. Curious how they did it?

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CPW shared a series of tweets with photos, videos, and descriptions of how, exactly, they managed to help the bucket-lid-studded doe. CPW says they’d been receiving reports about this doe since August 12, but they hadn’t had any luck tracking her down and immobilizing her so she could be free of the lid.

Then, this past weekend, a wildlife officer named Cody Rarick caught up with her and was able to dart her and remove the lid safely. The doe is a mother to two fawns, who stayed close by while Rarick helped their mother. After removing the broken lid, CPW officials tagged the doe, gave her a reversal drug, and ensured she got back on her feet and over to her does safely.

Here are the tweets describing how wildlife officials rescued a doe from the bucket lid:

🦌 We finally caught up to a mule deer doe we've been wanting to help for weeks! Check out this wildlife rescue.

This doe was living with a bucket lid around its neck, and we had been getting reports dating back to Aug. 12. pic.twitter.com/Yl1V5GxWRa

— CPW SW Region (@CPW_SW) September 3, 2024

The deer was issued ear tags so hunters know the animal has recently been tranquilized – trading a necklace for some earrings. Shortly after the lid was removed, the deer was given a reversal drug and was back on its feet. pic.twitter.com/uaweSfRJig

— CPW SW Region (@CPW_SW) September 3, 2024

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.

Thanks to everyone who made this rescue possible. pic.twitter.com/CYDYPRVmZd

— CPW SW Region (@CPW_SW) September 3, 2024

Have you ever come across wildlife in need of some help? What did you do?

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