Christmas light guidelines aim to prevent entanglements with elk, deer

BANFF – Two recent cases involving ungulates with Christmas lights entangled in their antlers have prompted Parks Canada to urge residents and businesses to follow some simple guidelines.

Banff National Park wildlife officials suggest people hold off on putting up Christmas lights until after Nov. 30 when the deer rut is over, or ensure lights are hung at least 10 feet off the ground, or secured tightly if strung up lower than that.

“We have issues with ungulates – deer and elk – sometimes getting their antlers entangled in these lights and creating a lot of issues for those animals,” said Dan Rafla, a human-wildlife management specialist.

“We’ve already had two this year with Christmas lights, so we want to reach out to the community to help us be good stewards and prevent this from happening by following those guidelines about Christmas lights.”

In the first instance, a bull elk had Christmas lights caught up in its antlers on Oct. 5.

A week later on Oct. 12, a mule deer was seen in a residential yard with festive lights entangled in its antlers.

Parks Canada’s wildlife crew caught and immobilized both animals in order to get the Christmas lights off.

“We were able to respond fairly quickly,” Rafla said, adding he is grateful residents phoned in to alert Parks Canada of the situations.

“Both animals were able to recover relatively quickly and walk off with no injuries and lights removed.”

During the rut, male whitetail and mule deer are more aggressive and animated.

“They’re swinging their heads around and scratching their heads along trees, which tends to be a higher chance of getting entangled,” Rafla said.

Having lights entangled in antlers can prove dangerous for elk and deer – and has led to injuries in the past.

If Parks deems there’s a threat to the animal's safety, wildlife crews will attempt to remove the lights.

“It could get entangled in a tree and create injuries if the animal tried to escape,” Rafla said.

Immobilizing wild animals, however, is not without risk.

“Even though our team is professional and exceptional with what they do, there’s that risk to the animal,” Rafla said. “So why not avoid it to begin with by following some of those suggestions we have for folks?”

Parks Canada also encourages residents and businesses to have timers on their Christmas lights so they turn off for the nighttime.

“That’s so as to not to disturb nocturnal animals like flying squirrels, bats and owls,” Rafla said.

If anyone sees Christmas lights entangled in the antlers of deer or elk, they are asked to call Banff dispatch immediately at 403-762-1470.