Riverside cops free deer stuck in hammock

Oh, deer!

Police officers in west suburban Riverside helped free a deer whose antlers got stuck in a hammock Wednesday afternoon.

A woman called for help about 12:30 p.m. after noticing the tangled buck in her backyard in the 300 block of Fairbank Road, according to Riverside police. Deer are known forage in the area, which is close to the Des Plaines River.

The animal was “stressed” when officers arrived, so they called for help from the Cook County Animal Control department, police said. It took five tranquilizer darts to sedate the deer so the netting could be cut.

“I am thankful that we were able to rescue the deer and ultimately get it to a safe location at an animal shelter in Chicago Ridge,” Riverside Police Chief Tom Weitzel said.

It is being cared for at the Animal Welfare League.