The BC Conservation Officer Services rescued an elk over the weekend after its antlers got caught in a zipline near Lake Cowichan.
Conservation Officer Services received a call Saturday afternoon about the entangled elk, located on a private property in Youbou.
Within an hour of receiving the call, an officer was able to respond to the location and assess the scene.
According to BC Conservation Officer Services, it appeared that the elk had been entangled for “several hours,” based on the tracks in the dirt.
The officer noted that the tracks made it appear that the elk had tried to free itself in multiple ways and directions.
The responding officer was able to chemically immobilize the elk and free it from the custom zipline, which spanned between trees on the property.
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In this instance, the drugs used had a reversal option, which the officer was able to deploy and the elk got up and walked away.
Neighbours have since reported to BC Conservation Officer Services that the elk has been spotted in the past few days and it appeared to be doing well.
The BC Conservation Officer Services is advising residents – particularly those that live in areas where elk or deer are more common – to maintain and manage their property.
Items such as hammocks or volleyball nets should be taken down when they are not being used in order to minimize the risk of wildlife entanglements.
The BC Conservation Officer Service rescues an elk who became entangled in a zipline near Lake Cowichan.
Graham Cox
