Does in Distress

 

During the winter months it tends to be more of a preparation for the inevitable baby season soon to arrive. At times at night the phone doesn’t ring but when it does it usually means that an animal needs help. Deer falling through the ice is not uncommon especially in the beginning of the season when conditions are unpredictable and rescue attempt for people trying to save their lives are very dangerous. 2 heroic men risked so much to pull 2 does out of the frozen thin ice and onto the safety of solid ground. The long trying work took hours of will power, strength and persistence but in the end success gave the 2 men the feeling of pure gratification and pride. It is a feeling we feel on a regular basis as wildlife come and go here at the Sanctuary. For these 2 men it was a gift to be a part of saving nature and 2 very majestic creatures from an infinite demise.

The call came in and in minutes we were loaded and on the road. It was only a 15-minute drive, which seemed to take forever. The deer were on the shore and were attempting to stand but from the lengthy duration in cold freezing water and the stress of the situation can cause serious damage, physically and mentally with white tailed deer.

By the quiet lights along the shoreline illuminating 2 black silhouettes of the deer we knew it was not going to be an easy capture. With the heavy deep snows and the weight of the full grown adult deer it was going to take the 4 of us every bit of strength to get the does to safety. The least amount of stress after the day was the only way to guarantee survival. With covers over their eyes and their legs safely secured we slowly inched their bodies onto a stretcher. The sooner we could get them into the warm quiet secure barn at the Sanctuary the better and the trudge threw the snowy drifts and banks was hard and difficult. Before long both were stable in the back of the vehicle.

The warmth and solitude of the barn and the deep bedding of soft clean straw gave the deer the relief they would need to start to recover. It would take a while depending on the damage done to the muscles or even neurologically but every creature deserves that chance, that time, that dedication to ensure rehabilitation and release.