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Wild deer escapes troublesome plastic pumpkin

Animal had been unable to eat due to fake jack-o’-lantern stuck on snout

Image: Deer with pumkin on snout
A young deer struggles to free itself from a plastic jack-o'-lantern on Nov. 6 in Cascade Township, Mich. The animal finally freed itself on Saturday, officials said.
Deb Larson Via Grand Rapids Pres / AP
updated 6:33 p.m. ET Nov. 11, 2006

CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich. - A deer whose head was stuck in a plastic Halloween jack-o’-lantern for nearly a week has freed itself and will be fine, animal rescuers said Saturday.

Two children found a dented, hair-lined plastic pumpkin in their yard Friday night, and other neighbors saw a thin deer running free, The Grand Rapids Press reported. It was rainy Friday, which rescuers think helped the young deer wriggle free.

Rescuers had planned to use a dart gun to tranquilize the yearling, then remove the bucket, meant for collecting candy.

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The bucket was stuck on the animal’s snout, hanging like a feed bag, preventing it from eating or drinking. It had appeared to be snagged on the buck’s ears or horn buds.

Dr. Wendy Swift, a veterinarian, said there was some water residue in the bucket, which probably provided the deer with some water to drink.

“I think this deer will be just fine,” Swift said.

© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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