Three-legged deer caught in Christmas lights gets help from human heroes

Officials from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife have become holiday heroes after helping an unusual deer deal with a Grinch-level experience.

The male lives in Dallas, Oregon, and was nicknamed Tripod because he only has three legs. He recently needed help from wildlife officials after he got tangled up in a string of Christmas lights in his woods. “ODFW threw it and took the lights away,” the agency tweeted this week.

This 3-legged buck nicknamed Tripod by Dallas, Oregonians, wasn’t run over by a reindeer, but got tangled in lights while decorating hallways like another buck recently. ODFW darted it and removed the lights. The leg injury is completely healed and the deer seems to be moving fine. pic.twitter.com/x3m79Egt7Q

— Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (@MyODFW) December 20, 2022

ODFW posted several photos of the deer. One shows him standing with the lights hanging from his head. Another shows him tranquilized with denim covering his face as a wildlife officer removes lights from the woods.

The male’s predicament was not an isolated incident. In November, ODFW officials helped another deer with the same problem.

Alright all of you Clark Griswolds. We know you love decorating for Christmas, but that’s just too far. Fortunately, this male was released from his decorations yesterday and continued on his merry way. pic.twitter.com/nbrnvxvESG

— Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (@MyODFW) December 1, 2022

“Males rub their antlers on trees, bushes and other objects in September to get rid of velvet and during the rut from October to mid-December to mark their territory and show dominance against other males”, wrote the ODFW on Facebook. “If you have deer frequenting your property, hang the lights higher up in the trees where the bucks can’t get in.”

Both males may have had welfare purposes, but it’s not always a happy story for the animals who get caught up in things ranging from light ropes to hammocks to volleyball nets. . ODFW responded to comments about males and lights on Facebook, noting that some animals do not survive if they are too attached and are unable to eat, drink or escape predators.

The Christmas story of the three-legged male highlights a potential downside of festive decorations, but it’s worth celebrating the resilience of Tripod and the humans who helped him.