Deer with Halloween pumpkin stuck on its head for 10 days rescued after team waded icy river four times

The Detroit Animal Welfare Group (DAWG) said in a social media post on November 9 that a young buck had a plastic Halloween pumpkin stuck on its head, sealing its mouth shut and leaving it unable to eat or drink for 10 days. Rescuers waded an icy river four times before finally freeing it.

Four crossings of a thigh-deep icy river

After tracking the deer for days, the rescue team waded a roughly 20-foot-wide, thigh-deep icy river four times to reach it, then sedated it and removed the pumpkin. The animal was confirmed to be a young button buck and was given fluids for moderate dehydration.

It stood up on waking — and paused to groom itself

The deer stood up on its own after waking and paused to groom itself, as if saying thank you. The post drew 28,100 likes and 3,000 comments. Source: Upworthy, citing the Detroit Animal Welfare Group's social media post.