Managing wildlife takes many forms, from setting hunting seasons to population research. But sometimes management is hands-on and unexpected. Idaho Fish and Game employees are typically the first responders when deer, elk and other wildlife get into a hazardous situation and need a helping hand.
These videos of deer rescues show unexpected things that can frequently happen when wildlife gets around homes and communities.
When they happen, people often say, “I can’t believe our fence did that.” Yet, items around our homes that we don’t see as hazardous, such as fences, loose wire and bailing string, can harm deer and other wildlife.
Idaho Fish and Game officers recently responded to a yearling deer whose head and rear leg were caught in a loose piece of hog panel.
Hundreds of calls every year
The wire hog panel prevented the deer from eating and scraped the hair off its neck. The officers who released the deer believe it will recover from this injury and learn to live with it, like many other deer injured in urban settings.
Idaho Fish and Game receives hundreds of calls every year from concerned citizens who report similar situations. The most common problems involve loose wire, unkempt fences and wrought ironed fence spires. Some deer, like this next one from Salmon, are lucky to be found and released.
You can help
People living where deer are common can help by picking up and removing items on their property that can hamper their movement or injure deer and other wildlife. A little help can go a long to prevent situations like these from occurring.