Minnesota police use Taser, chainsaws to free antler-locked deer

SOUTH MINNETONKA, Minn., Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Police in Minnesota said they had to use a Taser on a deer to subdue him for long enough to untangle his antlers from those of a deceased rival.

South Minnetonka Police said they received a call about 8:30 a.m. Sunday about two deer with their antlers locked together in the woods near a residential area and officers arrived to find one of the deer thrashing around in an attempt to free himself from the other buck, which was already dead.

Officer Ricky Syhre told the Minneapolis Star Tribune the bucks "must have been stuck together like that for hours."

Syhre said he and Officer John Wareham consulted with wildlife agencies before deciding to use the Taser on the buck to prevent it from harming itself or others.

Residents armed with miniature chain saws quickly cut off one of the living deer's antlers while it was subdued and it was able to run off into the woods after a few moments.

The rescue was filmed by police and posted to YouTube.

Syhre said officers are trained to use Tasers in animal situations, but they rarely have to use that training.

"Doesn't happen every day that you would [Taser] a deer," he said.

Lt. Jackie Glaser of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources applauded the officers for helping the deer.

"It is very rare we find one dead and one alive," she said.

Glaser said antler-locked deer are usually both dead when they are found by authorities.