Elk found killed with cord wrapped around head south of Moose Jaw

A Moose Jaw conservation officer is reminding those in rural Saskatchewan to rid their yards of things wildlife can get into.

The message comes after Kyle Hanson received a call about an elk dead on the side of the road in mid-January.

When he arrived at the scene on Highway 2 south of Moose Jaw, Hanson found the animal entangled in an orange extension cord.

“I kind of felt sorry for the elk,” he said. “The cord was wrapped around so tight that I couldn’t move it at all; it cut through one of his ears (and) just from looking at that, I assumed that he was hit by a vehicle just because he couldn’t see.”

Hanson said it’s rare — but not unheard of — to see deer or elk tangled in items they picked up in their travels, noting it’s most common during the rut in the fall.

“They spend a lot of time rubbing their antlers on trees and shrubs, bales and fence posts — whatever else they can find. When they’re doing that, that’s when they get tangled up,” Hanson said. “It’s important to remember that wildlife do occasionally wander into backyards, construction sites, farmyards and they can get tangled in items laying around or they can cause other damage.”

Anyone who sees an animal in distress is encouraged to call their local conservation officer or the 24-hour Turn In Poachers line at 1-800-667-7561.