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Meet 'Christmas,' the deer lighting up Bowen Island

A string of Christmas lights wrapped around the deer's antlers doesn't seem to be harming the ungulate
Christmas snacking away despite the lights around his antlers.
Christmas snacking away despite the lights around his antlers.

At least one buck on Bowen is applying for Santa’s sled team. 

Dubbed by some young Bowen Islanders ‘Christmas,’ a deer with a string of Christmas lights wrapped around his antlers has been reported to conservation officers a couple of times in the last few weeks. 

“It seemed to be mobile, feeding, just doing normal deer behaviour and it was still able to feed itself and survive,” said conservation officer Erich Harbich. “At this time we don’t see any health concerns or concerns relating to its ability to survive.”

“We’re just monitoring and if anything comes up in a future report that’s concerning, like we always do, we’ll respond as per policy to maintain the quality of life,” he said. “If for humane purposes we can detach him from [the string of lights] if it starts to be a problem, then we’ll be glad to do it.”