Deer Tranquilized After Antlers Get Tangled in Hammock

RIVERSIDE, IL -- Cook County Animal Control officials tranquilized a deer whose antlers had become entangled in a hammock in Riverside.

Riverside police responded around 12:27 p.m. Wednesday to a call from a resident in the 300 block of Fairbank Road, reporting that a deer had become stuck in her swing in backyard. When police arrived, they found a buck with its antlers entangled in a hammock behind the residence.

The deer was stressed and had already drawn a large crowd, including several children. Riverside officers realized it was not a safe situation for them to handle, so they called Cook County Animal Control for assistance.

Animal control officials came to scene and darted the deer with tranquilizers. It took five separate tranquilizer shots to sedate the deer, where animal control officials could get close enough to cut the netting.

The deer was loaded onto a Riverside Public Works truck and brought to the Animal Welfare League in Chicago Ridge. As of Wednesday evening, the buck was still alive and sedated, Riverside Police Chief Tom Weitzel said in a news release..

"It is not unusual for deer to traverse through the rear yards in this area. The 300 block of Fairbank is close to the Des Plaines River where deer travel through residential yards looking for food,” Weitzel said. “In this case, the animal became entrapped in the hammock style netting swing. I am thankful that we were able to rescue the deer and ultimately get it to a safe location at an animal shelter in Chicago Ridge."