This elk will live to climb another day. Colorado wildlife officials reported an unusual rescue of an elk tangled in climbing ropes near a popular ice wall in Lake City. The report first came in from some ice climbers on January 3, who saw the large bull struggling with ropes wound through its antlers.
A team from Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) arrived on scene with capture equipment and tranquilized the animal with a dart. The rescuers cut the rope from the elk’s antlers, but still needed a way to get the bull elk down from the steep climbing wall, according to CPW social media posts.
That’s when the climbers who first noticed the animal decided to join the rescue effort. They helped CPW set up a rope system to safely belay the elk down to the base of the ice wall, officials said. Once securely on the ground, Colorado officials “reversed” the tranquilizer to awaken the bull, which woke up after 12 minutes, and then “popped back up and ran off down the canyon,” CPW wrote on X.
“Luckily, the story had a happy ending,” CPW said. “Thanks to the climbers (Chris, Chris and Becky!) who called to report this and Lake City sheriff Denim Starnes for their assistance. It serves as a reminder of the many various tangle hazards wildlife can get caught in.”
Rescuers included CPW biologist Alyssa Meier, seasonal technician Paul Rivera, deer and elk survival technician Anna Markey, and Lake City wildlife officer Lucas Martin.
CPW didn’t immediately respond to GearJunkie’s requests on Wednesday for further details.
