Deer Freed From Pretzel Jar, With Help From DNR

BEL AIR, MD — A young buck is back to roaming the woods of Harford County with a clear head, after officials said they tracked him for more than a week so they could remove a plastic container from his face.

Nicknamed "Jughead" by the community, the deer was tranquilized Sunday night so authorities could take off the snack jar, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

He was "healthy and alert" upon release, officials said.

To locate Jughead, a team combed the Bel Air brush and woodlands to track the deer's path, then established tree stands where they could see him and attempt to intercept him, natural resources officials said.

Community members in Bel Air also posted pictures and sightings on Facebook to help pinpoint Jughead's whereabouts as the days stacked up and the young buck was without food and water. The wind and Jughead's skittishness made it challenging to shoot with him a tranquilizer dart, officials told WBAL.

Wildlife Director Paul Peditto posted a video of the jar coming off Jughead while he was tranquilized.

To prevent a similar Jughead-type incident from happening in the future, Peditto advised residents to put lids on containers they set outside for trash or recycling collection, according to WTOP.

Image courtesy of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.