An Elk Living With 35-Pound Car Tire Around Its Neck For Two Years Has Just Been Freed

A bull elk was freed from a heavy car tire in Colorado last Saturday, shedding around 35 pounds from its body. The elk had been spotted wearing the tire on its neck by the wildlife officers since July 2019. However, after unsuccessful efforts to approach the elk, they had to stop catching it.

Source: Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Until last Saturday evening, a recent sight of the elk was reported near Pine Junction, southwest of Denver. Officers Dawson Swanson and Scott Murdoch were able to locate and tranquilize the bull. At first, they intended to simply cut the tire without harming the elk's five-point antlers. However, they eventually had to cut them off because the steel in the tire was too hard to be sliced.

Source: Colorado Parks and Wildlife

“It was tight removing it,” Murdoch shared. “It was not easy for sure, we had to move it just right to get it off because we weren’t able to cut the steel in the bead of the tire. Fortunately, the bull’s neck still had a little room to move."
“We would have preferred to cut the tire and leave the antlers for his rutting activity, but the situation was dynamic and we had to just get the tire off in any way possible.”
Upon the removal of the tire, the officers were surprised that the bull's neck was not severely damaged despite enduring a considerable weight for two years.

Source: Colorado Parks and Wildlife

“The hair was rubbed off a little bit, there was one small open wound maybe the size of a nickel or quarter, but other than that it looked really good,” told Murdoch. “I was quite shocked to see how good it looked.”
The bull elk, estimated to be four-and-a-half years old and weigh 600 pounds, was rescued on the fourth attempt that wildlife officers had made during the week.  It was found along with a herd of roughly 40 elk. Swanson couldn't hide his happiness to be able to help the animal and let it return back to its family.

Source: Colorado Parks and Wildlife

“I am just grateful to be able to work in a community that values our state’s wildlife resource.”
We are thankful to the Colorado Park and Wildlife officers for their work. We are happy for the bull because it can now enjoy freedom in the wild.
H/T: cpw.state.co.us