Worried Children Look On As Elk Freed From Barbed-Wire Fence
CASTLE PINES, Colo. (cbs4) – A bull elk caught in 40 feet of barbed wire was freed Saturday afternoon after being stuck for hours near Castle Pines.
Elk Ridge Park is no stranger to wildlife, but on Saturday the scene was anything but normal.
"I felt bad for it because it was like running to get loose," a young Delaney Gilmore said.
The Gilmore family was one of dozens who stopped to witness the 400-pound elk trapped in barbed wire.
"It had like 6 to 7 feet antlers; it was massive," Delaney said.
"The kids who were there were worried," Delaney's mother said.
Police, sheriff's deputies and Department of Wildlife rangers worked to free the animal.
"It seemed like it was really tired and scared," Delaney said.
Over the course of a few hours officials decided the best course of action would be to tranquilize the animal to untangle it.
"You could tell that it was tired and not feeling too great," Delaney's mother said.
Rangers said the danger was because of the animal's size and what it could have done out of fear. They told citizens to keep their distance in similar situations and to call Parks and Wildlife.
"They waited for it to start moving before they left and it was safe," Delaney said.
The elk sustained only a few cuts and scrapes but woke up and eventually made its way to safety.
"It was sad, it's such a majestic animal that you hate to see it hurt," Delaney's mother said. "I was happy people stopped and cared enough to take care of it."
Animal experts say the fenced in area usually houses cattle which is why the barbed wire was installed.