Ohio deer appears to have freed itself from plastic pumpkin

Dec. 11 (UPI) -- A deer that had been sought by animal rescuers in Ohio after getting its face stuck in a plastic Halloween pumpkin appears to have freed itself, officials said.

Upper Arlington police and state wildlife officials had been seeking the deer for more than a week after it was repeatedly spotted in the Columbus area with the plastic pumpkin firmly lodged on its face, preventing it from eating.

The deer was witnessed drinking by dipping the pumpkin into a stream and filling it with water.

Police tweeted Saturday morning that the deer appears to have freed itself. They said a resident discovered a discarded plastic pumpkin next to the deer feeder on his property.

"It is likely that the deer who has been the source of so much attention has shed his bulbous, orange muzzle," the tweet said.

State wildlife officials said a number of clues lead them to believe the pumpkin is the same one photographed on the deer's face. They said the dents in the bucket indicate it is the same object, and deer hair was discovered inside the bucket.

Wildlife officers said they will be monitoring the situation in the coming days to ensure there are no further reports of a deer with a pumpkin bucket on its head.