Deer seen flying through the sky ‘not linked to man in red suit visiting next week’

In fact, it’s part of a conservation effort in the mountainous region.

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources said: ‘These aren’t Santa’s flying reindeer.

‘Each winter, our biologists capture and place GPS collars on approximately 1,200 deer throughout the state.

‘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.’

A clip shows a deer with its eyes covered while being examined. One of the deer is freed and helped up by the men and trots away into the wild.

The video drew dozens of comments and a mixture of reactions. Some Facebook users lamented that elk often become roadkill, while others appreciated the agency’s efforts.

‘Love it!!! Now coordinate this with Udot and do better about putting legitimate crossings in place so wintering wildlife can still migrate effectively to survive the winter,’ wrote one Facebook user.

Another remarked: ‘The videos just keep getting better.’