Dumb and dangerous

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

It is fall, and for us that means lots of deer everywhere, and lots of deer dating.

We live right up against the Los Angeles National Forest, but still in a neighborhood of lots of houses, people, dogs, children and activity.  It is posted everywhere no hunting, no discharge of weapons, no bow and arrow use.  It is not deer season and there is no hunting anyway for miles and miles around  And yet...

I am just plain angry.   We have been visited daily by a mature male mule deer, beautiful coat, with glorious antlers.  Friday he showed up with an arrow in his side, just in through the flesh enough to stay,  Almost certainly an arrow shot by a child or an incredibly inept adult.  Who does this?  And why?

Who would let their child use arrows unsupervised, or who would "practice" anywhere but an archery range ( their are several within a few miles).  Who is so thoughtless??

And it get worse.  We (ignorantly) called the humane society as directed by the police dispatcher.  After stumbling around for  awhile trying to find us ( no GPS, I guess) he arrived to "help".  by this time the deer was lying down, but awake, at the back of our property.  As it turns out this was fortunate as if the deer had been accessible he would have been tranquilized and then euthanized.  This is the required "procedure".  If he had been tranquilized, the arrow could have been removed and little copper sulfate applied and when he awoke he almost certainly would have healed and gone on to father more deer.  When we heard that would be the procedure we agreed that by the time the humane society employee ( who was by the way very thoughtful and helpful and kind) climbed the hill, that surely the deer would have fled.

The glorious deer is still around today with the arrow hanging from his side. I could just cry.  I want the deer mended and the arrow fingerprinted.  Maybe the idiot "archer" is already in the system, as you have to get fingerprinted for almost anything you do in California.  Now I see why.

Thanks for being a forum where I can rant, I might feel a teensy bit better, but the deer certainly does not.

  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This is just plain sickening. Just hearing about it is bad enough, to have to actually see the poor animal walking around like that must be horrifying. Is there possibly an independent wildlife rescue in the area that could help? 

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Thank you Karen for being sympathetic.  I have talked to several neighbors who have lived here much longer than we have.  They don't know of any other organization to call either.  We do have a vet who lives in this area and couple of retired men who have a tranquilizer gun and know how to use it.  Coordinating everyone while the deer is close enough to tranquilize is difficult.   However, now many of our neighbors are in on the effort.

Again thanks for understanding - its horrible.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I did some googling. Looks like there are several independent wildlife rescues in So. Cal. Here's the link:

http://wildlife.rescueshelter.com/California

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Thanks Karen - Our "designated wildlife rescue" is Pasadena Humane Society, which is who I called.

As I said their employee who came was very nice, but the policy is to euthanize.  Guess I should not have been surprised as they euthanize dogs and cats also.  Haven't seen him today.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I think it would be worth contacting one of the private wildlife rescues. After all, every county has an animal control facility but that doesn't mean people have to take a stray dog there, they can choose to contact one of the private rescue groups instead.

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

That is just awful! I can't believe people can be so cruel. You would think that the humane society would be willing to do exactly what you proposed. It is the HUMANE thing to do after all. Poor deer. I hope he doesn't get hurt further somehow because of that dangling arrow. Hopefully your neighborhood can help him.

[Gail and Bailey]

So sad and scary! To think that some idiot is shooting arrows so close to homes is just terrible! Poor deer! I live very close to an area that allows hunting and when it is "deer season" all the deer that usually roam our neighborhood are smart enough to disappear for a while and return when it is over. I always wonder how they know and where they hide out. So sorry you have to see that handsome buck with an arrow in him. Hoping you and your neighbors can help him. Keep us posted.

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

This just makes me so sad and angry.  How can people or their children with lack of supervison be so cruel.  Hopefully maybe someone found the deer some help.  We can only pray.

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Yikes! I do not blame you for ranting.  I hope you and your neighbors are successful in helping this poor creature.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

This is just awful!  I don't blame you one bit for being upset.   So much for the humane Humane Society.  I was thinking there might be a vet who could help.  Hope together, you can find the deer and help him.  

[Rose]

You should contact a wildlife rehabilitator in your area. 

https://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/WIL/rehab/facilities.html

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

This hurts my heart!