Oh Deer! Fawn trapped in fencing rescued by officers

Windsor police saved a fawn that was trapped in fencing in Amherstburg.

Constables Frederick Adair and Travis Miller came to the rescue of the baby deer trapped in breakwall fencing along the Amherstburg shore.

“I don't know how it got in there or how long it had been there," said Adair.

The officers used bolt cutters to free the distraught animal from crashing waves.

The fawn, too young to survive on its own, was safely taken to Wings Rehab Centre, where it will be cared for and released back into the wild.

“This is a first for me in my 25 some odd years of policing,” Adair said, noting it’s all in a day’s work. "It's a normal kind of thing out here in Amherstburg, we're not only responding to people's things, but we're also dealing with animals."

Adair added, "It was definitely a cute little deer and, hopefully it works out well."

Wings Rehab wildlife technologist and outreach coordinator Alexander Campbell said they do get a lot of wildlife from snakes, turtles and in this case, a deer.

"We usually get about four to eight deer a year. About only 3 to 4 of those cases actually need to come in. Unfortunately, it's really common for people to "kidnap" deer because they think they're injured and they'll bring them in even though mom's still around. She's just hiding the deer and getting herself some food before she feeds the baby."

Campbell said the fawn, along with a few others will be rehabilitated throughout the year before being released next spring.

"We're actually really, really busy. Unfortunately, due to urbanization more and more wildlife is coming in with injuries caused by people. So whether that be car strikes, window strikes, we're seeing a lot more traumas rather than babies, which is unfortunate. But we are currently in the works of looking at getting a new facility so we can take in even more wildlife."

Campbell said they help upwards of 4000 animals annually and noted there’s always a need for volunteers or monetary donations. Campbell suggested a new facility would allow animal intake to double.

"It's in the works. Unfortunately, we just don't have the volunteers like we used to and our volunteers that come here weekly are already starting to face fatigue from working so much. We didn't get any summer grants this year, so both myself and other staff member Jennifer have been here almost daily, working hard to make sure all the wildlife is cared for."