Just call him Rudolph: Mule deer wanders Montana with Christmas lights dangling from antlers

Mule deer or Yule deer? Buck draped with decor

HELENA, Mont. — Call it a case of Christmas creep. A young mule deer in Montana is ushering in the holiday season early.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks game warden Kevin Cook says the buck got mixed up with a string of Christmas lights and now they are hanging from his antlers and body. The agency started getting reports about the decorated deer near Fort Harrison last week.

Cook says the buck probably became entangled when he rubbed his antlers on a tree. He says the department is keeping an eye on the animal, but so far it seems to be full of mule-tide cheer.

Cook says similar incidents have happened previously, including a deer with a swing in its antlers and another sporting a clothes line, complete with clothing. The deer usually lose the accessories when they shed their antlers.

Information from: Independent Record, www.helenair.com