Students and faculty at Brandon High School in Florida were met with a gruesome sight when they arrived for school Monday morning. A dead deer was strung up the school's flagpole, hanging by its hind leg. Photo by Gillian Ellis/UPI | License Photo

TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Students and faculty at Brandon High School in Florida were met with a gruesome sight when they arrived for school Monday morning.

A dead deer was strung up the school's flagpole, hanging up by its hind leg.


There was little to no evidence of any other kind of vandalism in the area and both school officials and local authorities believe it to be a misguided prank.

"In this case what may have started out as a prank in the minds of students could become a criminal charge," Hillsborough County sheriff's spokesperson, Larry McKinnon, told the Tampa Bay Times.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Services state that the deer had been dead for about six hours.

The deer was not believed to have been alive while being hung and school staff quickly removed the animal from sight although some students saw it and posted photos to social media.

Authorities stated that they would be checking the school's surveillance system in hopes of finding the culprit.