A Michigan rescue group removed a plastic pumpkin from a deer’s snout after a 10-day search to free the young buck from the faux gourd.
Detroit Animal Welfare Group, a nonprofit in Romeo, had been chasing the deer since it was first spotted with a plastic pumpkin covering its nose and mouth 10 days ago — preventing the animal from eating or drinking.
On Sunday, rescuers followed the young button buck through the woods of Hines Park, a 2,300-acre expanse in Wayne County, and waded through a 20-foot-wide river four times to close in on the animal.
“Climbing up tall muddy banks, hills, climbing through fallen branches and thick brush…but we were able to safely dart the deer. The bucket was removed!” Detroit Animal Welfare Group said in a statement.
The deer was moderately dehydrated and was treated with fluids before his tranquilizing medication was reversed, and he was freed — pumpkin-less — into the wild.
He was also given a “do not eat until” ear tag, which is required by law for human safety should the deer be hunted for food after it’s given sedatives.
“Happy tears! We will finally get some sleep tonight even though we are cold, wet and smell like swamp. We want to thank everybody who came out to search for the last 10 days,” the nonprofit wrote.
