Oregon Wildlife Experts Immobilize Elk on N. Coast, Disentangle Rope from Its Neck, Antlers

Published 02/15/25 at 8:09 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Arch Cape, Oregon) – For several days, those living on the north Oregon coast noticed a large Roosevelt elk with something stuck around its neck. A looped rope and what appeared to be a plastic float or two were entangled around the elk, causing varying degrees of concern and some social media popularity as it wandered Arch Cape, just south of Cannon Beach. (Photo ODFW)

Experts in the area, including law enforcement and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) personnel, were keeping an eye on the big guy. The rope was not choking the bull elk: it had simply gotten the objects caught around its neck and was dragging them around. See the elk with objects around its neck, antlers.

However, on Wednesday, February 12, officials took action ventured out to tranquilize him and remove the rope. Together with Oregon State Police, Cannon Beach Fire District, Cannon Beach Police Department and the Mist-Birkenfeld Rural Fire Protection District’s Large Animal Rescue Team, the group managed to hit him with a dart and knock him out. They were then able to remove the rope and buoy tangled in its antlers.

From there, north Oregon coast personnel relocate the elk out of the Arch Cape area.

Photo ODFW: vehicles used to cart away the elk

“The agencies conducted a pre-operation and safety briefing,” ODFW said. “Once resources were in place on the beach, ODFW successfully darted and secured the elk. Mist-Birkenfeld and Cannon Beach Fire assisted ODFW and OSP staff to load and transport the elk off the beach and into an ODFW trailer. The elk was transported and successfully released in the Coast Range of Clatsop County.”

ODFW said each situation of capturing wildlife and immobilizing them is wildly different – and risks vary greatly as well. Essentially, going out and darting an animal that is in some kind of distress is not an easy undertaking, nor can it be quickly executed. While ODFW biologists are highly trained in such procedures, they have to carefully plan and consider all the risks.

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“ODFW and OSP monitored the elk daily this week, and the necessary resources and conditions for a safe operation aligned on Wednesday afternoon,” ODFW said.

What was actually in the elk's antlers was a bit surprising: ODFW it was a yard decoration and not float gear from the ocean.

“One of the main causes of elk and deer entanglement is items that come from yards,” ODFW said. “Holiday lights are particularly problematic along with hammocks, dog lines, tomato cages, volleyball/soccer nets, and items like ropes/buoys used for decoration.”

ODFW urged people living near elk populations to put away yard objects no longer in use, which could help prevent more entanglement.

Seaside Aquarium photo

Much of the state's Roosevelt elk population live in the Oregon Coast Range. They venture down towards beaches more during the winter.

Oregon Coast Beach Connection talked to ODFW's Herman Biederbeck several years ago, back when encounters with local elk were causing some dangerous situations.

Luckily, those incidents have dropped off. However, his words from 2018 still ring true now.

“Yes, people should enjoy elk from a distance, and if they have a dog with them, at an even farther distance from them,” Biederbeck said. “Elk should not be fed by people – it creates lots of problems and it usually ends badly for the elk. There are times when elk are more sensitive (negatively) to people. In June-July the cow elk often have young calves at heel, and they’re very protective. In September-October the bull elk are in the breeding season or ‘rut’ and they can become very intolerant of people as well.”

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Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast.

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