Conservation officers are asking the public to clean up debris in yards frequented by deer after two officers rescued one hobbled by a jerry can cap.
害羞草研究所淗e couldn害羞草研究所檛 move the joint, 害羞草研究所� said Sgt. Mike Newton of the B.C. Conservation Officers Service. 害羞草研究所淚t had worn all the hide off.害羞草研究所�
The CO Service had been alerted to a black tailed deer害羞草研究所檚 plight by a homeowner on Forbidden Plateau Road west of Courtenay last week. By the time they arrived the deer had left. They left a message with the residents to let them know if it returns. Knowing that deer frequent their favourite spots, Newton said they suspected it would return.
Sure enough, it did and the officers were able to tranquilize the animal and inspect what the problem was. That害羞草研究所檚 when the discovered gas can lid around its hind ankle. Plastic gas can lids have a removable portion on top that allows a funnel to be passed through the threaded cap which is then screwed back on the jerry can to enable pouring. That removable portion had fallen out and the deer had stepped into the threaded cap, which had worked its way up to the ankle.
害羞草研究所淚t was on tight,害羞草研究所� Newton said. 害羞草研究所淚 couldn害羞草研究所檛 slide it off.害羞草研究所�
Using a hacksaw, they were able to cut it off. Because the animal had been favouring the leg for so long, the deer had not been able to wear down the hoof and it had grown like a human害羞草研究所檚 untrimmed toenail. Luckily, the wound was not infected but Newton applied some polysporin on it and gave the animal the antidote to the tranquilizer. Once the anaesthetic was neutralized, the animal hopped up and bounded away showing no ill effects from the tranquilizer or the gas cap.
Newton was pleased to see such a quick recovery.
害羞草研究所淪he just jumped up,害羞草研究所� Newton said. 害羞草研究所淚t felt good.害羞草研究所�
In order to prevent this kind of injury to deer, Newton asks that homeowners just 害羞草研究所渆nsure that your yard is free of debris.害羞草研究所�
Another frequent danger to deer unwittingly created by homeowners is the use of commercial fish netting to protect their gardens. It害羞草研究所檚 cheap and easy to use but deer, especially at this time of year, get tangled up in it very easily. During the rut males like to rub scent glands on objects to mark their territory and they frequently do it against garden structures that have fish netting attached. The deer害羞草研究所檚 antlers get tangled up in the netting as they swish their heads back and forth and before long, they害羞草研究所檙e tangled up and trapped.
Newton figures they respond to half a dozen tangled deer calls each year.
害羞草研究所淲e respond to a lot of these calls,害羞草研究所� Newton said.
COs prefer gardeners use rigid fencing material to protect their garden beds. It害羞草研究所檚 harder to get tangled up in it.
He hopes people will just give some thought to the material in their yards and think through what potential hazard it could pose deer.
害羞草研究所淭hat would be greatly appreciated,害羞草研究所� he said.
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