Team effort rescues S. Oregon elk, tangled in downed wires

BUTTE FALLS, Ore. (KTVZ) – A team effort in southwest Oregon rescued a large elk that got its antlers tangled up in downed telephone and cable wires, officials said.

A caretaker at a ranch near Butte Falls discovered the Roosevelt elk on the property Thursday morning, struggling to free itself. The caretaker called Oregon State Police, who responded along with Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists.

Pacific Power also sent a crew, but while OSP's tweet indicated power lines were disabled, those on scene told the paper they were phone and cable wires.

An ODFW biologist said the fatigued bull elk, probably 700-800 pounds, probably had spent hours caught in the wires, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.

An ODFW biologist shot the elk with a tranquilizer dart, and after less than a half-hour, it went down.

The team cut the wires off the antlers, then gave the elk a dose of reversal agent. About 10 minutes later, it climbed to its feet and walked off, with no apparent injuries.