Deer in distress in Kenora, Ont., sparks calls from resident for more wildlife support
CBC
Every day, Deena Foy's dog receives a visit in the yard from one particular deer.
The animals sit and stare at each other until the doe moves on to its usual grazing spots around Kenora, Ont., and then comes back in the morning.
"It's a regular thing," Foy told CBC News.
But on Monday, Foy noticed something wrong with her dog's wild friend: it had something wrapped around its head and neck.
It appeared to be a tomato cage or some other type of garden planter.
"She looked so miserable sitting there with this thing around her head," Foy said.
After bringing her dog inside, Foy said she didn't know what to do. She couldn't find any information on the city's website, so she called the Ontario Provincial Police's (OPP) non-emergency line.
From there, she was directed to the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), but was told no one was able to help.
She posted a photo of the deer on Facebook to ask other people for advice, but there were more jokes in the comments section about the deer's appearance than empathy for its predicament.
"Yes, deer can be a nuisance, but there's still a spirit. They're still an animal — they deserve the help, right?" Foy said. "I don't want them to suffer."
Like clockwork, the doe came back to Foy's yard on Tuesday — tomato cage and all. While Foy was afraid to approach the animal herself, she finally connected with MNR officers, who told her they regularly receive calls about animals in trouble.
"MNR district staff are currently out in the community attempting to locate the deer. If the deer is located, MNR staff will assess the situation and look to safely assist the distressed deer," Mike Fenn, a spokesperson for the MNR, told CBC News in an email on Tuesday afternoon.
Foy's main takeaway is that more needs to be done to educate the public about what to do if they see an animal in distress. Not just in Kenora, but across northern Ontario where deer, and other wildlife are a part of everyday life.
"It would be helpful to have on the city website, just a contact number in case you see an injured animal," she said.
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