Here’s a fun story with a happy ending that was recently shared by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources:

“Glade Springs Director of Security Greg Duckworth contacted District Four Captain Woodrow Brogan about a yearling buck that had gotten himself into a peculiar situation,” the W.Va. Natural Resources Police wrote on their Facebook page Thursday. “After reviewing the evidence, District Biologist Todd Dowdy was brought on board with hopes of finding a positive outcome to the little bucks plight. It seems that the young fellow had stuck his head inside a plastic Halloween bucket and the handle hooked over his button horn prohibiting him from removing his head.

“Since the scenario involved a man-made article and a not a hazard that typically occurs in nature, a team of biologists armed with a tranquilizer gun began a long and grueling six-day search and rescue mission.

“Assisted by Glade Springs Security, they were eventually able to corral the deer into a safe area where he was darted and the bucket was removed. Other than the obvious lack of food and water, the button buck didn’t appear to be any worse for wear; but he has probably lost all of his Halloween spirit.

“As with all animals that the biologists tranquilize, the deer was tagged and all the vital statistics were recorded. We would like to give a special thanks to our wildlife guys and gal that went above and beyond to release this little guy from eventual starvation.”