A deer rescued by CFB Esquimalt firefighters Dec. 27 had to be euthanized.

B次元官网网址淭ypically we donB次元官网网址檛 admit adults because we canB次元官网网址檛 take care of them. They end up injuring themselves further when theyB次元官网网址檙e contained,B次元官网网址� said Christina Carrieres, a Wildlife Rehabilitator with Wild ARC. B次元官网网址淭he fact that she was able to be captured is because she was in shock at that point.B次元官网网址�

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The deer was found trapped between a fence post and a building.

B次元官网网址淲hile she was stuck she was trying to get away from it. Instead of using her hoof as she was standing and trying to get forward, she was down on the equivalent of her wrist,B次元官网网址� explained Carrieres. B次元官网网址淏y scratching the ground like that she ripped the skin, the muscle and even ruptured some ligaments as well, and the bones were exposed. One of the two legs wasnB次元官网网址檛 quite as bad as the other one, but the one was really bad. She probably would not have had use of that leg anymore.B次元官网网址�

Carrieres did note that crews on scene did everything right considering the circumstances. Even if the doe was rescued sooner, the stress caused by getting stuck could have killed her later on.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e susceptible to a condition called capture myopathy, which is a condition that animals B次元官网网址� especially prey species B次元官网网址� are susceptible to,B次元官网网址� Carrieres said. B次元官网网址淲hat happens is the equivalent of when we work out too much and then thereB次元官网网址檚 build up of lactic acid in the muscles so weB次元官网网址檙e really stiff next few days. ThatB次元官网网址檚 because the muscle cells have been dying. For a prey species thatB次元官网网址檚 suffering from capture myopathy, that process doesnB次元官网网址檛 stop.B次元官网网址�

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Even when they appear fine, getting stuck in the first place can be fatal to deer. With increased urban fencing, Carrieres said thatB次元官网网址檚 becoming more common in the region. Carrieres said it might be best to consider calling conservation officers first if a distressed deer is spotted. Officers could sedate the deer, keeping both the animal and humans safe until the best course of action is decided. When deer are rescued, typically younger deer have a higher likelihood of being successfully treated and released.

B次元官网网址淪ometimes even placing a blanket over them so that they canB次元官网网址檛 see whatB次元官网网址檚 going on around them, it kind of calms them down a little bit until we can get there and figure out what to do next,B次元官网网址� Carrieres said.

Jesse Laufer [9:37 AM]

jesse.laufer@oakbaynews.com
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