Elk NetworkElk Relieved of Trash Lid Stuck on its Neck

General | April 9, 2021

Bears are more well-known for dumpster diving and pillaging trash cans but a cow elk in Colorado apparently was too tempted to stay away. It happened in the small mountain town of Evergreen about 25 miles west of Denver.

Numerous citizens in and around town spotted the elk with a plastic trash can lid stuck around its neck. Officers with Colorado Parks and Wildlife answered the call and came to the rescue.

It turns out the cow is an older elk. Officers used a tranquilizer gun to dart the animal so they could safely approach it and remove the lid.

Go here to watch Twitter video of the elk with the lid on its neck and go here to watch video of the elk waking up from sedation and wandering away.

(Photo source: Colorado Parks and Wildlife)