In late 2021, a dramatic rescue finally came to a successful end deep in the forests of Colorado. A four-year-old elk, known to locals and wildlife officials for roaming with a tire stuck around his neck for more than two years, was finally freed by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) team after numerous failed attempts.
The elk was first spotted in 2019 with the tire awkwardly jammed over its neck—likely from trying to feed or explore in an area littered with human debris. At the time, wildlife officials were occupied with another project and lacked the equipment to intervene. Over the next two years, the elk was seen sporadically on trail cameras, but despite several coordinated rescue attempts, it consistently evaded capture, often vanishing into the wilderness or blending in with its herd.
That changed during mating season, when the animal’s behavior became more predictable. CPW officers renewed their efforts and, after three failed attempts, finally darted the elk with a tranquilizer during their fourth try.
Even under sedation, the elk made one last attempt to escape, forcing rangers to track him carefully through the trees. When he finally collapsed, officers moved quickly. The tire was embedded with dirt, debris, and steel wires, and had begun to wear into the elk’s skin. Unable to cut through the wires, the team made a difficult decision to remove the elk’s antlers in order to slide the tire off without causing further harm. They treated the wounds and assessed his health.
While the elk was found to be slightly underweight at around 270kg, he was otherwise in good condition. After the tire was removed and the area cleaned, the elk regained consciousness—and ran off into the forest, finally free.
