Is that Dasher and Dancer? Flying deer in red coats are spotted over Utah

Flying deer were spotted over Utah just days before Christmas, but the airborne animals were not pulling Santa’s sleigh.

Wrapped in red fabric, the animals were hanging from a rope attached to a helicopter that was relocating them to an area to perform health assessments.

Biologists conduct the mission each winter, moving 1,200 deer to an open area where the four-legged animals can be tagged with GPS collars.

The team ran into action as soon as the deer landed on the ground, removing the clothes and releasing them back into the wild.

 The mission was conducted by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, which shared the video on its Facebook page.

‘These aren’t Santa’s flying reindeer! Each winter, our biologists capture and place GPS collars on approximately 1,200 deer throughout the state,’ the post reads.

‘They are also brought to a staging area where we perform health assessments before safely letting them go back into the wild. 

‘These important efforts help us monitor and learn about deer migration patterns.’

Biologists measure the fat content of the deer and place a vaginal implant in some of the does so when they give birth, the tracker will lead experts to the fawn.

Wrapped in red fabric, the animals were hanging from a rope attached to a helicopter that was relocating them to an area to perform health assessments

The team ran into action as soon as the deer landed on the ground, removing the clothes and releasing them back into the wild

‘Placing GPS collars on deer and following the animals over time provides biologists with valuable information, including how long deer live in Utah, their habitat type during different times of the year, and their migration patterns

‘Placing GPS collars on deer and following the animals over time provides biologists with valuable information, including how long deer live in Utah, their habitat type during different times of the year, and their migration patterns,’ the organization shared.

The trackers also help researchers uncover poaching. 

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources reported that 179 of the animals were killed illegally in the state last year, among the total of 1,283 wild animals and fish that were poached – an 11 percent increase from 2021.

The deer are captured by a team using net guns and are then placed in red bags – the animal’s eyes are also covered.

The captures typically occur in November and December (with a few happening in February and March) when the animals have migrated to lower elevations and are easier to locate. 

Another reason the captures take place during the winter is that big game animals have difficulty regulating their body temperature, and the cool weather helps them recover more quickly.