Elk Found Tangled in Christmas Lights in Canmore

What’s Happening? Bow Valley WildSmart shared a worrying photo taken on the morning of November 27, 2025 in Canmore’s Benchlands Terrace. It shows a bull elk with an entire string of Christmas lights wrapped around its antlers. It is a dramatic reminder that our holiday decorating habits can create real hazards for wildlife moving through our neighbourhoods.

Why It Happens? As WildSmart’s Nick de Ruyter explains, the fall rut runs from September through November. During this time, male elk and deer spend months thrashing shrubs, rubbing against trees, and tossing their antlers to show dominance. Anything loose, dangling, or low to the ground becomes an easy snag point. Lights, garlands, extension cords, hammocks, and even forgotten rope or tarps have all ended up tangled on local wildlife in the past.

In short, the decorations we put up in celebration can quickly become obstacles when an elk chooses the wrong shrub to rub against.

The Holiday Fixes That Actually Help. WildSmart’s advice focuses on giving animals clear space to move and keeping anything snag prone out of reach.

• Hang lights 10 feet or higher. Rooflines and high branches are ideal. Avoid wrapping low bushes.

• Secure lights tightly to buildings. Sagging cords are easy targets for antlers.

• Skip tree-to-tree light strings. These act like nets across natural travel routes.

• Consider cord-free options. Window lights, indoor displays, and laser projectors all offer glow without the hazards.

• Wait until after Nov. 30. Rutting season is when males are most active and most likely to snag decorations.

• Remove decorations promptly. The longer they stay up, the higher the chance wildlife runs into them.

• Do a yard check. Hammocks, garden wire, old fencing, tarps, and buckets are all common entanglement risks.

Night Sky Friendly and Wildlife Friendly. WildSmart also recommends putting lights on timers so they turn off overnight. This helps nocturnal species such as owls, bats, and flying squirrels who rely on darkness to hunt or avoid predators. It also reduces light pollution and lowers power bills.

Coloured bulbs, especially reds and yellows, are less disruptive to wildlife than bright white LEDs. Solar powered lights and LED strings are also better for the environment and can reduce long term energy costs.

The Big Picture. One tangled elk may seem like an isolated incident, but WildSmart emphasizes that keeping wildlife wild is a shared responsibility. With a few simple adjustments to how we decorate, residents can keep the festive spirit alive while keeping the valley’s wildlife safe.