4 Idaho elk find themselves in quite the predicament over the weekend

HAILEY, Idaho (KBOI) — Four elk were trapped or entangled in window wells over the weekend in Blaine Couty, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game reports.

The first report was of a cow elk with a disk stuck on its neck. Officers located the elk, but it had moved into a large herd, so they couldn't isolate it and remove the disk.

Wildlife officials say they'll monitor the elk over the next few weeks.

The second was a bull elk with twine wrapped around its antlers. Officers said the twine didn't threaten the elk, and since its antlers will fall off in the next few weeks, they left it alone.

The third was a bull elk that got tangled in a horse halter and lead rope. Biologists were able to anesthetize the elk and untangle it safely.

The fourth was a cow elk that fell into a window well in a Hailey, Idaho home. The well was deep enough the elk couldn't get out on its own. Officers and the homeowner were able to safely remove the elk from the well.

“These entanglement calls are a reminder to all Valley residents to make sure that they wildlife-proof their homes and barns so that wildlife doesn’t get tangled in household or livestock equipment, and, homeowners should cover their window wells to help keep wildlife out of the deep wells,” said Brandyn Hurd, senior conservation officer.

“We get these calls every year, especially in the winter when elk are moving through yards and pastures. Wildlife can easily get entangled in this equipment which puts the animal at risk, but it also puts the Fish and Game team at risk when using drugs to anesthetize the animal and working to free them.”