Tugging on it works. There's more cans attached to the other end in the ship, and they jangle cheerfully as Pipes pulls it. There are probably better ways to do this, but Mayday is a spaceship engineer, not an expert on primitive communication devices.

After he checks who's at his 'door', Mayday rides valiantly down in his creaking bin to meet him. Leaning out carefully, we waves down. "Pipes!"

Several deer jump out when the elevator touches down. They'll be back.