A bull elk captured on video in Estes Park, sporting a black witch decoration dangling from its antlers, has drawn widespread attention while also underscoring significant hazards big game animals encounter in the fall. The 16-second video, shot in October 2025 and shared recently by Colorado Wild Images, shows the bull casually crossing a highway with the decoration swinging from its right antler.
While the elk appeared only mildly annoyed by its unwanted passenger, continuing on its way, social media commenters made light of the situation, with one joking, "He just wants to get some candy too." Another commenter speculated about identifying the elk when its antlers shed, and many joked about the elk's mating chances. However, wildlife officials emphasize a serious dimension to such spectacles, noting that every fall, elk, deer, and moose are at risk of getting their antlers tangled in various human-made objects, including wire fencing, ropes, hammocks, Christmas lights, and Halloween decorations.
The fall season, which coincides with the mating season known as the rut, presents plentiful opportunities for these entanglements. Ron Dean, a retired Wyoming Game and Fish supervisor, highlighted that fall is a particularly troublesome period for bull elk. Their antlers are fully grown, hormones are elevated, and they are more inclined to challenge anything they perceive as competition. Dean noted that during the rut, bulls can even "bang into cars," being "just looking for a fight." While he could not recall seeing an elk tangled with a Halloween witch, Dean said it is not unusual for elk to get their antlers caught in wire or fencing. The risk can begin even before the rut, as bulls rub their antlers against objects to remove the velvet that nourished them throughout the summer. Once the rut starts, bulls use their antlers to spar with rivals, which can bring them into contact with obstacles that are difficult to shake loose.
While a Halloween witch might create an entertaining video, some entanglements can become life-threatening if they impede an animal's ability to eat, move, or escape danger. Jeff Kehoe of the Estes Park Visitors Center noted that local residents and visitors are accustomed to sharing streets, parks, and neighborhoods with these animals. However, during the rut, bulls become especially unpredictable. Kehoe observed that "During the rut they're absolutely crazy," often getting their antlers tangled in various items when they wander into town. With a herd of approximately 200 elk wintering in the area, encounters between wildlife and human belongings are a regular occurrence. Residents strive to be mindful of what they leave outdoors, particularly in the fall, trying "hard not to put stuff that they're going to get tangled in." Nevertheless, the reality remains that elk coexist in these same decorated yards and public spaces, which can become both playgrounds and potential hazards for animals weighing hundreds of pounds with large antler racks.
Halloween decorations are not the sole items causing concern for Colorado's elk. In 2023, a Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) officer rescued an elk that had been tangled in the ropes of a swing for six months. The agency shared details of the rescue, explaining that the officer carefully worked to soothe the elk and remove the ropes from its antlers. More recently, Kristy Williams, a wildlife photographer and owner of Colorado Wild Photography, reported encountering a bull elk with a black cable tangled in its antlers, necessitating CPW to tranquilize the animal for removal. This year, Loren Schrag of Good Bull Outdoors, a Colorado-based wildlife photography company, witnessed a bull near Estes Park with over 300 feet of wire fencing caught in its antlers. He described the amount of wire as "incredible," and when officers tranquilized the struggling bull, it ran across a road, dragging the extensive wire behind it before officers used bolt cutters for removal.
A Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson indicated that not every entanglement requires intervention, stating that they generally allow animals to shed such items naturally unless the entanglement prevents the animal from eating or living normally. The decision to intervene depends on the nature of the entanglement and the specific danger it poses to the animal.
With Halloween approaching, Colorado Parks and Wildlife issued a reminder this week that decorations intended for trick-or-treaters can pose genuine risks to wildlife. Items such as fake spiderwebs, mummy wrappings, and other loosely hanging decorations can easily catch on antlers, legs, or other body parts. The agency warned that these items can easily entangle and trap wildlife, which can be very stressful and dangerous. The warning extends beyond Halloween, advising residents to also bring in other seasonal items from summer, such as hammocks and patio furniture, which pose entanglement hazards to wildlife. Fall is an especially active time for big game, as they move between seasonal habitats and engage in mating seasons. Some animals also move closer to communities as they transition towards winter range, increasing their likelihood of encountering objects left outdoors by people. Wildlife officials recommend placing holiday lights and decorations at least six feet above the ground or securing them tightly to trees and buildings, emphasizing the rule of thumb: "Hang decorations high and tight, rather than low and loose." This guidance applies broadly to communities where elk, deer, and moose share space with people. The video of the Estes Park bull elk serves as a reminder that what appears amusing from a distance can quickly become a serious problem for wildlife.
