Jan. 3—Many people look forward to the new year as a fresh start. Add to the list one cow elk in Ruidoso.
A photo of an elk with a barstool stuck around its neck began circulating on Facebook after the Ruidoso Police Department shared a post on Dec. 28.
“We are aware of the elk with the chair on his head. New Mexico Game and Fish has evaluated the elk,” the post said. “They have determined that it is able to move around, eat and drink.”
In the post, Ruidoso Police stated that Game and Fish wanted to give the elk time to attempt to remove the barstool chair itself before the agency intervened, in order to avoid putting the elk through the stress of being tranquilized and captured.
“Officials are optimistic it was able to remove its head from the chair while bedded out of sight during the overnight hours,” the Facebook post from the Ruidoso Police Department said. “They are working to confirm the elk’s status and take additional action if needed.”
Many comments on the social media post seemed to disagree with Game and Fish’s decision to leave the elk alone.
Users left comments like “Wow how sad. Imagine you or your kids stuck in there & the fire department say ‘ehhh they can still eat & drink there fine’. What a joke.”
Another comment said, “Cruelty to animals, the public should go after whomever is in charge of wildlife there.”
This incident is not the first time an elk has found itself tangled up in outdoor furniture. According to Game and Fish, “In January 2024, officers captured and removed lawn furniture from three cow elk in the course of one week. Since that time, the number of entanglements has slowed but is still somewhat common in the area.”
On Monday, Lincoln County Sheriff Michael Wood posted an update video on Facebook, letting viewers know that Game and Fish officials called to let him know they had authorized the use of tranquilizing darts to subdue the elk and remove the chair.
“We’re out looking for her now and if in your travels you see her, let us know,” Wood said. “Let’s find her and get it done.”
After four days, two Game and Fish officers located the elk, who had stumbled near a residential home with the chair still around its neck, and shot a tranquilizing dart into it. Within one minute, the officers were able to remove the chair from the elk and stood with the elk for a short time while it came out of its stupor.
The department is asking residents in Ruidoso to bring in loose lawn furniture for the winter or secure it. The department is also asking residents to stop feeding wildlife.