A baby fallow deer caught in stock fencing would have died a slow death if it wasn't for volunteer rescuers from East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service (WRAS).
On Sunday 18th October WRAS rescuers were called to a footpath just off the A275 south of Dane Hill in East Sussex. Rescuers from Uckfield attended on site taking large stretchers and rescue equipment not believing the deer would be a baby at this time of year. The baby fallow deer was caught in stock fencing in the middle of a hedge and rescuers were surprised to find a 2 week old baby fallow deer suffering from hypothermia. Fallow deer are normally born up until the end of July, it is believed that some are born later but do not normally survive the winter not putting on enough weight.
"We never thought this would be a baby as many calls we receive about deer are reports of babies but they turn out to be the smaller adults or juvenile females at this time of year, we were very surprised to say the least, in the past 24 years I've never come across this before," said WRAS Rescue Co-ordinator Trevor Weeks.
Trevor assessed the deer on site before picking her up and wrapping her in a towel and carried her back to WRAS’s ambulance tucked under his jacket. "We were very worried about her condition as she was so cold, and there is no doubt in my mind that she would have died overnight had she been left, we were also worried about how she was caught around her groyne" said WRAS Rescuer Kathy Martyn.
The poor little creature was given emergency treatment and delivered to fellow carers Chris and Sylvia on Ashdown Forest who have many years experience of hand rearing baby deer and getting them back to the wild. The deer was named "Button" after Jenson Button who was crossing the finishing line winning the Formula One World Championship at the time she was rescued.
"WRAS has been reluctant to release a press release until now as Button has been through such a traumatic few weeks struggling to survive. At one point we really did not think she would survive. We have posted several pictures on our facebook and twitter sites and we have had many people wishing her best wishes" said Trevor.
Button suffered from haemorrhagic enteritis and with help from WRAS's locum vet Simon Harris, Wildlife Aid and their Veterinary Nurse Sara Cowen she has amazingly still pulled through. The expert round the clock dedicated attention of carers Chris and Sylvia, even bringing her back from the brink of death six days after she was rescued, has helped her pull through so far. Button has been well enough this week to venture out into the garden and meet other young deer which have been hand reared this year. Button is not out of the woods yet but with Chris and Sylvia's help we hope that she will make a full recovery and eventually be releasable.
"Everyone at WRAS and Wildlife Aid have their fingers crossed for little "Button" who is a true fighter. We would like to thank Chris and Sylvia, vet Simon Harris and everyone at Wildlife Aid for their support" said Trevor Weeks," as I start my 25th year helping wildlife I am still amazed at how these casualties can fight so hard to pull through such traumatic events."
Further pictures and information on Button and other WRAS rescuers can be found online at www.twitter.com/eastsussexwras or search for East Sussex WRAS on facebook.
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Note: We cannot reveal the location of the deer nor the surname of Chris and Sylvia in order to keep the location confidential and secure.
Press Contact: Trevor Weeks, East Sussex WRAS, 07931 523958
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