CBS NEWS
EUGENE, OR (KVAL) - A deer got its antlers caught in Christmas lights on Monday.
"It was seen yesterday morning dragging these lights behind it," wildlife biologist Brian Wolfer with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said Tuesday, "and originally the bundle of lights were pretty loose but as the morning wore off it started tightening up around the deer's neck."
"If the lights had just been wrapped around the antlers, it wouldn't have been a big deal because the bucks will shed their antlers in late winter so it would have lost the lights at that point," Wolfer said, "but because it was wrapped around the deer's neck it had the ability to restrict air flow or restrict the ability to eat or swallow."
Biologists tranquilized the deer so they could untangle the strand of lights from its antlers and throat.
The incident happened in the neighborhood near Chambers Street and 25th Avenue.
Deer are rutting this time of year. During the rut, male deer rub their antlers on trees and fight with each other as part of the mating process.
In urban areas, deer in rut often get tangled in Christmas lights, hammocks and other things the dangle from trees, ODFW told KVAL News.
"When winter comes it's a good idea to hang your lights up on your house or higher up in your trees," Wolfer said. "If you got them in the shrubbery you could entangle the deer and ultimately cost the deer it's life."
You May Also Like...
Bikini Photos: 2012 Hooters International Swimsuit Pageant
Monkey off our backs: "Mystery Monkey" finally captured!
Sex Offender Search: Look up Florida Sex Offenders here
Lawsuit: Scientology allegedly covered up woman's death
Lovely Angels: 2012 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show pictures
Yowtch! Teen accidentally shoots off his penis, testicle
Nation in distress? Veteran flies flag upside down after Obama victory
Cheerleader sex: Former Ben-Gal pleads guilty to sex with teen
Unwelcome house guests: Coyotes move into abandoned mansion
PHOTOS: George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin crime scene pics
Not just a game? Man murdered for Magic: The Gathering cards
Yearbook mug shot: Teen who posed in racy yearbook photos busted for underage drinking
Bikinis, mud, trucks: The Redneck Yacht Club
Photos: Ex-Charlie Sheen Goddess Bree Olson
Naughty Schoolgirls: Naughty schoolgirl night at Tampa club pictures
Outrageous mug shot galleries...
Strange: Some of the most unusual mug shots we've seen
Notorious Women: Bad girls behind bars
Teachers: Teacher arrest mugshots
Celebrities: The rich and famous have their own booking photos
Jaw droppers: Open mouth mug shots
Laughers: What's so funny mug shots
Prostitutes: Prostitute mug shots
Athletes: Professional athlete mug shots
Porn arrests: Child porn arrest mug shots
Local Mugs: Hillsborough County Mug shots
More unusual mug shots and galleries: 10 News slideshows and galleries
KVAL via CBS Newspath