Wildlife officials in southwestern Colorado successfully rescued a bull elk entangled in climbing rope. The animal, weighing approximately 700 pounds, was safely lowered from a cliff face after being darted with a tranquilizer.
Ice climbers first discovered the distressed elk Friday morning. A Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) biologist administered a tranquilizer, covering the elk's eyes to protect it during the procedure. Climbers assisted CPW officers in rigging a system of ropes to lower the elk safely.
The rescue involved carefully securing the elk with ropes under its chest and along its antlers. This allowed the team to lower it to the base of the cliff face. After approximately 12 minutes, the tranquilizer's effects were reversed, allowing the elk to awaken and depart the area.
"It can take several minutes for the animal to regain its full strength after reversing the tranquilizer," explained a CPW spokesperson. The elk, estimated to be two and a half years old, had become stuck the night before and was found fatigued with minor scrapes. The entire rescue effort took over two hours.
Entanglement in man-made obstacles, such as fences or ropes, is not uncommon for elk.
