Those darn antlers!

What to do when you see a deer in distress.

This summer, we’ve had reports of a few bucks with their antlers and heads wrapped in netting, and as a result, questions around what steps should be taken.

Sometimes, if the buck is unable to eat or drink and is in distress, and conservation officers are unavailable, our wildlife vet is able to receive permission from the province to sedate the buck in order to remove the netting. With the help of several volunteers tracking a buck for multiple hours earlier this spring, that’s exactly what happened, we were able to remove sports netting wrapped tightly around his head and mouth that was preventing him from eating and drinking.

There was also an instance where a young buck spotted with netting around his antlers was able to remove it himself, and recently another one was spotted in Oak Bay with green netting in his antlers. Because he can eat and drink, and isn’t too perturbed by the netting, the decision was made to leave him alone. Ultimately, the less we have to handle a deer, the better it is for them.

And finally, another buck with netting and a branch around his antlers and drooping into his face, was reported to us last week with fears the branch was in his eye. A number of folks kept watch for several days and when the wildlife vet was available, a raft of volunteers quickly mobilized, located the buck, and the vet was able to sedate him and remove the netting and branch, a positive outcome.

The thing is, with only two conservation officers for all of Vancouver Island, and only one wildlife vet equipped to handle urban deer, they often are not available. It’s important to know that they need to have as many details as possible to determine if they need to intervene. If you see a buck with netting around its head, or any deer in distress, here are the steps to take:

• Observe from a safe distance, use binoculars if you can
• Watch to see if they are eating and/or drinking
• Take a few photos, zoom in if you can
• If the deer is mobile, able to eat/drink and not in distress, you don’t need to take any further action. If you are on social media and see that others are posting and concerned, consider responding with what you’ve observed, in order to reassure others – if it’s netting, remember that antlers start to fall off around December and January!
• If the deer is in distress and/or unable to eat or drink:

• • • Call the conservation RAPP line 1-877-952-7277
    • You can follow up with an email at [email protected], provide as much information as you can including last location observed and photo
    • Inform the UWSS at [email protected], also with detailed info and photos if available
    • Alert others so that as many eyes can be on the deer as possible, in order to help either conservation officers or the wildlife vet have as precise a location as possible when they arrive on the scene, which can be hours or even days
    • Only if the deer is in extreme distress, call the non-emergency police line

For more information, please go to UWSS.ca or SPCA.bc.ca 

It’s Springtime and that means newborn fawns!

It’s that lovely time of year again, and that means it’s fawning season and time to be alert to deer’s unique behaviour, particularly does and fawns.

We sometimes hear does behaviour described as “aggressive”, but the better word is “protective”.  Just as any mama is protective of their child if they perceive danger, does also are protective of their young.

For the first few weeks of life, does attempt to “hide” their fawns to keep them safe from predators (fawns have no scent for their first two weeks of life, protecting them from predators in the wild – in the urban area this primarily means humans and dogs).  As a result, when you are out walking, you may see a doe, but not the fawn.  You could inadvertently be walking towards the fawn and this will worry the doe. She will likely try to intimidate you by either following you, or taking a protective stance. It may look threatening, but she’s trying to send you a message to stay away from her fawn.

There are some easy steps to take to avoid any human-deer conflict:

• Change your route – if a deer appears to be following you, try changing direction. You may unknowingly be walking toward a hidden fawn.
• Cross the street – rather than confronting the deer, cross the road.

• Remain quiet – waving your arms and yelling is threatening to the doe, causing the mother to feel even more protective of her fawn.
• Keep your dog near you – deer perceive dogs as a natural threat, regardless of their size, age, or demeanour. When you’re walking your dog in a neighbourhood or area where you know there are deer,  it’s very important to keep your dog leashed. If you see a deer, keep your dog close to you as you walk. Never release the leash to let the dog try to chase the deer away, that will only end in conflict.
• If you find a fawn, leave it alone – does shelter fawns from predators, leaving for long periods to forage, then returning for fawns to suckle. Because fawns are born without scent, for the first few weeks does may feed and sleep a considerable distance from the fawn to reduce the chance of attracting predators. BC SPCA’s WildARC receives numerous calls from people who have found an “orphaned” fawn, but typically advise residents to leave it alone – the mother is likely nearby and will return once you leave. However, if it appears cold, weak, thin, injured, bleats repetitively, or if the mother has not returned to a seemingly healthy fawn for more than ten hours, call WildArc at 1-855-622-7722. If you do find a fawn in distress do not attempt to move it, leave it lots of space, and alert others to stay away until you have instructions from Wild Arc. If you are aware that someone handled the fawn, take an old towel, rub it on the grass and then gently wipe the fawn down. The mama doe will be less likely to return to her fawn if it’s been handled by humans.
• When driving – especially at dawn and dusk, reduce your chance of hitting a deer by slowing down and scanning both sides of the road.  If you see deer grazing at the side of the road, slow down just as you would if it was a child playing. Stay alert and focused and remember that deer are rarely alone – and at this time of year a doe will likely have two fawns following happily along behind her, oblivious to the dangers of fast-moving cars. So, if you see one deer crossing – take an extra minute and wait to make sure a fawn or two aren’t following. Lastly, be aware that honking your horn/flashing your high beams may startle the deer into running into the road, or freezing in the middle – hence the phrase “frozen like a deer in the headlights”.

For more information, please go to SPCA.bc.ca