Deer saved from electric fencing

An Uckfield Veterinary Practice has helped save the life of a young female fallow deer rescued by volunteers from East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service (WRAS).

Trevor Weeks, Rescue Co-ordinator of WRAS helped by new volunteer Kathy Martyn, caught the deer at near Blackboys and transported it to Henley House Vets where veterinary surgeon Chris Hall was able to place the deer on life saving fluids and give pain relief. Due to the specialist nature of the injury the deer was rushed straight to a specialist Deer Hospital at St Tiggywinkles in Buckinghamshire where the deer in now being treated.

"The owner of the field had already cut the deer free from the electric fencing when we arrived. This makes our job alot harder but our new volunteer Kathy managed to rugby tackle the deer as it tried to run off." said Trevor Weeks, "we get a lot of incidents of deer with rear legs caught in fencing, wire, electric fencing, rope swings, netting and more and working with the specialists at St Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital we have a good success rate."

"We were having problems finding a local vet which would help us save this animal, one local practice told us that there are too many of them and therefore they would not help us. Thanks to Chris and the staff at Henley House Vets we have been able to do so." said Trevor Weeks.

WRAS is asking those who find deer or other animals caught in snares, fencing, rope or netting, not to cut them free with out seeking advice first. "It is very important that you don’t just cut an animal free and release it as it may be suffering from ligature wounds. Unlike a normal skin wound where you can clearly see an open cut and bleeding, ligature wounds are underneath the skin and can be difficult to see." said Trevor, "worse case scenario is that the deer or other wildlife casualty runs off and them dies from septicaemia. You also have to be careful about dislocations and other injuries. It is always better to leave the animal caught, however distressing it may be to look at, stand well clear of the animal so that it relaxes and doesn't panic and thrash around because you are standing so close, and call for help. It is important that rescuers see exactly how the pressure was applied as this helps to determine the possible success of any treatment."

East Sussex WRAS would like to thank Chris Hall and staff at Henley House Vets in Uckfield for their kind and generous support.

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Press Contact: Trevor Weeks, East Sussex WRAS, 07931 523958

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