Keeping Wild Animals in Mind when Decorating for Halloween

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Halloween is fast approaching, and decorations may be put up and hung. But Colorado Parks and Wildlife has a warning for the public.

CPW is urging the public to double-check their spooky decorations. They say wild animals such as deer, elk, ad bears can get stuck in cobwebbing and lights, which poses a risk.

This time of year in Southern Colorado, CPW says these animals are around residential areas. So they advise against having decorations such as webbing or lights strung from trees or bushes.

"Also with dangly decorations or decorations you need to hang between two trees or bushes, we advise against that because animals do run through bushes," CPW District Wildlife Manager Cassidy English said.

Deer enjoy rubbing their antlers on brush. It can then get tangled and wrapped around their necks, impeding their movement. Then CPW has to get involved. They respond to calls several times a year that a deer or elk is stuck.

"We have a ton of wildlife in the area," English said. "We have deer, bear, and some places elk. The best thing to do for decorating for Halloween is really to not have decorations out at all on your lawns, especially lights or hanging decorations."

If it is necessary to have webbing or lights, CPW says to have them at least 6 ft. high wrapped very tightly.

Also, bears are still out this time of year. So anything that has an aroma such as food or smells should be avoided in overnight hours.

Holiday decorating is still safely possible if guidelines are followed. The same rules do apply later in the year when Christmas decorating begins.