Antelope Island • Utah state wildlife officials gathered mule deer on Antelope Island this week and flew them by helicopter to biologists studying the health of the herd.
About 50 deer were flown this week, typically two or three at a time dangling below the aircraft in orange bags, the Standard-Examiner reported.
The blindfolded and restrained deer were taken to the island’s Fielding Garr Ranch, where biologists and other Utah Division of Wildlife Resources staffers checked various aspects of each animal’s health, including hind feet, body length and body fat.
“The fat helps us understand how well they’re going into winter,” said Eric Anderson, district wildlife biologist over the northern region with DWR.