A Sussex animal charity has issued a warning about discarded baler twine after a dramtic deer rescued today at Hellingly in East Sussex.

Volunteer rescuers from East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service (WRAS) jumped into their ambulance after receiving a call about a Fallow Deer buck with full palmate antlers caught in baler twine and a barbed wire fence.  Rescuers Trevor Weeks MBE his partner Kathy Martyn, both from Uckfield, and rescuers Chris Riddington from Eastbourne attended on site.

“The rescue was not an easy one, although the deer was restricted in how far it could move, the fact that it was in a hedge made our rescue attempts very difficult.  Our first few attempts to pin the deer to the floor using the walk-to-wards net did not work with the deer managing to get up every time. We just couldn’t get the right angle and coverage of the deer to pin it down.  We had to take the more risky approach of threading the long net through the fence either side of the deer where we were then able to restrict the deer’s movement. From behind a small tree I was also able to grab on of the back legs safely and full the deer to the floor. From there I was then able to get the deers head covered properly, pin the deer to the floor, and my colleagues Kathy and Chris were then able to start cutting away at the bailer twine” explained Trevor Weeks, founder of the charity.

From start to finish the rescue took 15minutes. “It certainly felt like the rescue was going on and on, we struggled to gain control of the deer. The twine was also very difficult to cut being so tightly attached to the antlers. Your heart really races when doing these rescues because you know you are causing stress to the deer and just want to get it cut free and released safely and as quickly as possible. The poor creatures obviously doesn’t realise we are trying to help it” said rescuer Kathy Martyn.

“Apart from a few minor cuts and grazes, the deer was fit for release, and it was a delight to see it run off across the fields back home safe and sound. This really goes to show the dangers of leaving discarded baler twine on the ground, where animals can get it caught round their legs, wings, or with deer round their antlers” said rescuer Chris Riddington.

East Sussex WRAS is asking anyone walking, visiting or working in the countryside to keep an eye out for baler twine and pick up any discard twine and dispose of it proper and safely. “This is not the first time we have had to rescue wildlife caught in twine, we have had at least 5 other entangled as well as seeing other wildlife like foxes, badgers, hedgehogs and even swans with twine caught on their legs or bodies. Please if you use such twine, please ensure it is disposed of correct to avoid any unnecessary suffering of not just our wildlife but also other agricultural and domestic animals. Many years when I worked at a stables we found a horse with twine caught round one of its legs unable to get free.”

Rescuer removed what was left of the twine cut from the deer and fence to help avoid any further casualties. Rescuers think it is likely that the fallow buck may have caught its antlers on the twine whilst either grazing or passing through a hedgerow. The twine was probably attached for a while before becoming entangled in the barbed wire as it passed through the hedge.

-END-

Press Contacts

Trevor Weeks MBE – East Sussex WRAS – 01825-873003 or 07931523958.

Pictures and Video taken by East Sussex WRAS free to use as long as East Sussex WRAS is credited.

Drop Box link to download video untitled:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/p433f9fm7e2ttrl/Hellingly%20Fallow%20Buck%20Rescue%2025th%20Jan%202015.wmv?dl=0

Higher quality version of these photos are available on request.

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