Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/deer-rescued-hammock-on-antlers/
It doesn’t matter who we are, we all have problems we have to deal with. It seems as if this is also true when it comes to the members of the animal kingdom. That fact became evident when a buck in Lake Natoma, California, was seen with a hammock stuck on his antlers.
Somebody in Lake Natoma had the hammock out to enjoy the summer weather and perhaps the deer wanted to enjoy it as well. The buck got a little too close, however, and got the hammock entangled in its antlers. Since that time, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has been trying to find the “hammock buck,” which had also become a local celebrity during that time.
A few days before Christmas, the team was able to locate the deer, tranquilize him, and remove his antlers. This would also provide additional protection from poachers. It took an hour of waiting before the CDFW was able to get tested and it was the third try when they were finally successful.
Captain Patrick Foy of the CDFW spoke with CBS Sacramento, saying:
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“People tend to grossly oversimplify the animal-capture process.
We showed up in the dark and basically ambushed the deer. We were in full camouflage.
This animal had no idea we were there. My partner got a good dart in the right spot which is generally the major muscle groups. We want to make them so that they are not vulnerable to poaching.”
Some of the residents were amazed at the staying power of the buck, including Monica Schluer, of Fair Oaks. She was surprised that the deer was able to survive for so long and she was also there to see the moment that the deer woke up after being tranquilized.
According to CBS, she said that the deer looked a little confused, like he was asking what was going on, and then he just got up and ran away. She was honored to experience that little piece of local history.
The CDFW was successful in its efforts and also wanted to let people know that illegal feeding was likely what caused the issue to happen in the first place.
They posted on Facebook that the “handsome buck” was brought close to human hazards when residents were feeding the deer illegally. It took them months to track down the deer and free it from the hammock.
Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog
