(November 2017) Washington: Wildlife officers doing what they seem to love doing -- seizing and killing orphaned wildlife

WASHINGTON -- A wildlife rehabilitation facility in Rochester was reeling Monday after the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife seized three baby deer and an elk.

The animals were euthanized, because officials say they'd gotten too used to humans.

One photo WDFW shared with KING 5 shows a fawn sucking on a person's ear. State officials call it a pattern at For Heaven's Sake Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation. Several young deer and an elk were all too comfortable around humans, they claim.

  Rescued only to be killed by WDFW

Rescued only to be killed by WDFW

In a press release sent Monday, WDFW wrote that "state regulations and national wildlife rehabilitation standards direct wildlife managers to euthanize habituated animals rather than release them into the wild."

"The situation at the Rochester facility could have been avoided if the rehabilitators had limited human contact with the animals, weaned them sooner, and released them into the wild in accordance with state guidelines," said WDFW Wildlife Program Assistant Director Eric Gardner, in the release.

But the allegations are not true, if you ask the woman who runs the facility.

"All the fencing covered with tarp so they can't see us," Claudia Supensky pointed out.

Supensky showed KING 5 the area where the deer and elk live, designed to reduce wildlife interaction with humans. No one is allowed to treat the animals like pets, she says.

WDFW coming to kill animals...

That's why she was shocked to learn a summer intern told the state exactly that, and after a few visits, state officials showed up with a trailer to seize the animals. They took three fawn and one elk.

"Just blew my mind. I couldn't believe they could just come in and take them," she said.

WDFW says wildlife is state property and the law requires any wildlife to be removed if it loses its fear of humans. They point to photos of the animals lingering around officers.

"What we saw were animals that were very used to humans, came up to the people that entered the pen, looking to be fed.The elk head-butted one of our staff," Gardner said.

WDFW killers pretending they love wildlife

Gardner called it a tough decision, but a necessary one. Deer and elk that grow accustomed to humans have a harder time surviving in the wild and can also be a danger to humans. He says they're normally released prior to winter, and the organization's plan to keep the animals until spring is atypical.

Supensky disagrees. She says some of the animals just needed more time to learn wild behaviors after weeks of being bottle fed. It's common practice for them, she says, to keep deer over winter to give them a better chance at survival and no one has yet to tell them it's bad practice. She also questions why the animals needed to be darted and tranquilized for loading onto WDFW's trailer if they trusted humans so much.

Left with little word about what would happen to her facility, Supensky didn't even know that the four animals seized were euthanized KILLED until KING5 told her Monday.

"They were? This is the most awful thing I've ever experienced in my life," she cried.

THE TRAILER OF DEATH:

Despicable WDFW officials using an apple to lead

these innocent animals to their death

WDFW is hoping to place some of the remaining deer in a research study at Washington State University.

They also hope to use this experience as a learning lesson for the public. Many young ungulates taken to rehab facilities are mistakenly removed from their mothers by people who assume the animals are abandoned. If found, wild animals should always be left alone while appropriate authorities are called.

"It's really unfortunate that something didn't go right this time. None of us like being where we're at. It's not a pleasant situation for any of us. We really hope we can continue to work with our rehabbers and provide the service we all want them to provide which is to recover these animals and get them released back to the wild," Gardner said.

WDFW won't let For Heaven's Sake take any more deer and elk, but the group decided to stop taking all new wildlife because they're so worried the state might seize more.

"We know for a fact that given the time, these animals could've been released. To take them and kill them, healthy animals we've put all the time and work into?" Supenksy said. "This is a matter of being killed before they were given the time to be released. My heart is so sick and so sad."

The Supenskys also told The Chronicle that the deer were so frightened by approaching WDFW officers that they fled to the nearby woods and eventually had to be lured with apples and then shot with tranquilizer darts in order to be rounded up. The Supenskys claim that in all their years working with animals they have never failed to successfully release a deer back into the wild.

"WDFW did not provide (For Heaven’s Sake) and these slain fawns and calf the opportunity to reach physical, behavioral, and psychological capability for release before seizing and euthanizing them,” Karp was quoted as saying in a press release from A Soft Place to Land.

Glaze says that the heavy-handed action at For Heaven’s Sake is not the first time that the WDFW has unfairly targeted animals at rehabilitation centers for lethal action despite other non-lethal options being available.

Glaze noted that Dan Boeholt, a property owner near Montesano, had previously offered WDFW the opportunity to relocate the deer onto 65 acres of his land and was disgusted when he found out the animals had instead been euthanized.

Others have taken notice too, including 19th District state Rep. Jim Walsh, who asked in a public Facebook post, "With all of the problems it has, WDFW makes a priority of killing Bambi?" 

(KING5 - Nov 14, 2017)

(October 2017) Florida: Sheriff's deputy pulls struggling fawn out of the ocean

FLORIDA -- Those flags on the beach mean something, so you should pay attention to them.

A deer in Florida didn't, and it had to be rescued by law enforcement. Though really, it's not the deer's fault because deer can't read, and they're color blind.

But a fawn probably learned a good lesson anyway after nearly drowning in the Gulf of Mexico despite the red flag warning that it was dangerous to go for a swim.

According to a post on its Facebook page, The Walton County Sheriff's Office pulled the deer to safety and wrapped him up in a blanket until Florida Fish and Wildlife could relocate the deer to a dry, safe place.

The sheriff also posted a warming to people not to attempt to make rescues themselves and leave it to those trained to handle the situation.

(WSFA - Oct 23, 2017)

Wisconsin: Fawn rescued from drowning in family’s water fountain in Waukesha County

WISCONSIN -- A baby deer was rescued after it fell into a family’s water fountain in the Village of Chenequa, Waukesha County. It happened Monday, August 14th.

The Wildlife In Need Center (WINC), located in Oconomowoc, says the fountain was deep enough that the fawn was unable to climb out on its own. Thankfully, a police officer came to the rescue “nearly minutes before it drowned.”

The WINC was called to help and asses the fawn’s condition. They say hypothermia and exhaustion were the staff’s main concerns because no one was sure how long the fawn had been stuck and struggling in the fountain.

Staff quickly wrapped her in dry towels and bedding to begin the warming process. She was also given warm subcutaneous fluids to help her body recover.

Staff with the WINC massaged the fawn’s body to aid in blood flow for over an hour. After she was dry, the fawn was no longer shivering and began moving her legs and looking around.

“Her legs wobbled quite a bit at first as she regained her strength but soon after she slowly wandered back into the nearby forest – most likely to reunite with mom and to bed down to rest,” said WINC. “We want to thank the Dalum family and the very helpful police officers that made this rescue possible!”

The WINC posted a video of the fawn getting back on her feet and roaming back into a wooded area.

An awesome rescue — and story — for everyone involved!

(Fox6Now - August 16, 2017)

Wisconsin: Shoppers at grocery store get a surprise when small deer runs through automatic doors into store

WISCONSIN -- Employees at a northeast Wisconsin Festival Foods store got a special visitor Monday evening.

 

According to a Facebook post, a deer walked through the Wine & Spirits Department.

Associates and guests formed a "human fence" to usher the little guy out an emergency exit door.

SURVEILLANCE VIDEO:

(NBC 26 - July 11, 2017)

North Carolina: Three-pound baby deer thriving with wildlife rehabilitator

NORTH CAROLINA -- Nancy Whisenant has been rehabilitating wild animals back to health for 25 years.

She's the self-proclaimed "bunny whisperer" and has raised 80 bunnies just this year. However, her newest project is a bit more unique, according to WBTV.

 

 

Last week, Whisenant received a call from Asheville Wildlife Resource Officers stating that a fawn needed care. She's nursed plenty of fawns back to health before, but this one is rare because of its size.

Weighing in at less than three pounds, this is the smallest newborn deer she's ever seen. Most are in the six-pound range.

 

In the week the fawn has been with Whisenant, it's gone from thin and full of maggots to eating and thriving.

It's unknown what happened to the baby deer's mom.

While this is the busiest time of year for cases like this, Whisenant was quick to point out that caring for a wild animal is illegal if you're not licensed in wildlife rehabilitation.

"If they catch you, you will be fined," she said.

And they'll often kill the animal in your possession. :(

(KTVL - July 10, 2017)

New York: Man cited for keeping deer fawn. NY conservation officers must be different than others - they released it instead of killing it

NEW YORK -- A New York man has been cited for keeping a wild deer on the second floor of his home.

State Department of Environmental Conservation Officer Jerry Kinney says his office received a complaint that a neighbor was harboring a wild animal in his Jamestown house.

The resident told responding officers he believed it was legal to keep the whitetail deer fawn in his house for up to six weeks before he had to release it.

Officers told him this was not true and issued the resident a ticket for illegal possession of protected wildlife.

Kinney says the deer was in good health and was released back into the wild.

(KEYC12 - June 30, 2017)

Texas: Game Warden warns Texans from 'saving' deer

TEXAS -- In some parts of Texas the deer population has taken over neighborhoods and personal properties but one Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Warden is warning residents not to 'save' these animals.

James Barge shared a photo of a fawn sitting on the passenger side of his pickup truck after having rescued it from a person's property.

"People will take these deer in and end up killing them," Barge said to Chron.com. "They mean well, but you can't treat fawns like domesticated animals. Feeding them cow's milk will kill them."

The Texas Game Warden took the photo to remind people to leave these young deer alone because their mothers are probably looking for food and will be back to get the fawns later.

"When deer lose their fear of people they end up getting aggressive as they get older," Barge said.

Barge said the resident did not receive a citation because he believed there was no intent to do anything illegal. "I took him at his word they didn't mean any harm to the fawn," Barge said.

Barge said if someone feels a fawn is in danger, the best thing to do is to call a Game Warden.

(Texas Chronicle - June 1, 2017)

Related:


Canada: Orphaned Quebec deer allowed to return to adoptive family


Canada: Judge allows Quebec City man to keep 'Moko,' his 7-year-old pet crow that he rescued when it was an injured orphaned baby


Kansas family’s pet deer chased around the yard by game wardens, shot in the leg and then shot in the back four times, killing her


Vermont: James Burke fined $868 for ignoring wildlife officials' repeated warnings to stop feeding bears at his house


United Kingdom: Adam Smith, 54, banned from keeping animals after he kept a GOLDEN EAGLE in his squalid kitchen


Couple Upset After Pet Raccoon Confiscated, Killed


Pet coyote, which wasn't being aggressive towards anyone, killed after getting loose from owner


West Virginia man faces charges after deer found living in home


'Bear Lady' of North Carolina may have been killed by bear she was famous for feeding as authorities find her savaged remains in the woods


Plea to governor to return three illegal deer to Kingwood family met with silence


New Jersey woman's bobcat caught after escaping for seventh time, being held at zoo


Authorities snatch pet mallard duck from woman after they're attacked by neighbor's dog


Wildlife officials continue to do what they do best: KILL ANIMALS


Bunny Business: LIFE With Horace the Housebroken Irish Hare (1956)


B.C. woman pleads for return of pet pigeon


Rocky the pet squirrel is lassoed by red tape as officials say his host family is not allowed to keep him


'Let me have my little girl back!' Man begs wildlife officials to return the bear cub he saved after it was abandoned by its mother


Former vet tech faces fine, jail for saving raccoons, deer


Armed agents raid animal shelter for baby deer, then kill it

Texas: Denton Sheriff's Deputy Shares Special Moment With Fawn He Rescued

TEXAS -- The Denton County Sheriff's Office shared some heartwarming photos on Friday of an animal services officer who rescued an abandoned fawn.

Deputy Kenneth Sissney responded to an abandoned animal call on South County Line Road on Thursday and discovered the small fawn, according to Lieutenant Orlando Hinojosa, a spokesman for the sheriff's office.

Sissney took the fawn to the county's animal shelter, but not before snapping a few photos with his newfound friend.

Hinojosa said a veterinary technician at the shelter called a wildlife rehabilitation center that agreed to take the fawn.

(NBCDFW - June 2, 2017)

New Jersey: Vincent Ascolese Animal control officer slit a baby deer's throat and failed to provide vet care to a dog and a baby squirrel - and gets NO punishment

NEW JERSEY -- An animal control officer accused of slitting a baby deer's throat two years ago has pleaded guilty to disorderly persons charges - NOT ANIMAL CRUELTY - related to the animal's death, the New Jersey SPCA announced Friday.

According to the animal advocacy group, Vincent Ascolese, 50, also had to pay $3,500 to the NJSPCA as restitution for the 2015 incident.

"No animal should have to die cruelly at the hands of someone entrusted with their safety," NJSPCA President Steve Shatkin said in a release about the plea deal.

"The NJSPCA will continue to aggressively prosecute anyone who brings harm to an animal, regardless of their title."

While working as the animal control officer in Bloomfield in June 2015, Ascolese, who is also the owner of Bergen Humane and director and supervising animal control officer at the North Jersey Humane Society Shelter, was charged with animal cruelty after killing an injured fawn, the organization said.

Officials said exsanguination (SLITTING SOMETHING'S THROAT), or blood draining, was not an approved method of animal euthanasia in New Jersey.

But James Lisa, the attorney representing Ascolese, argued that the deer was already dead when the officer found it. He pleaded guilty to improper disposal of a dead deer, Lisa said, a plea that will not impact his licenses.

"All kinds of (aspersions) were cast against my client," Lisa said.

"This is a guy who spent his entire professional life helping these animals. ... If it's 3 in the morning, if there's an animal I trouble, he'll get out there to rescue it."

Despite Lisa's assertions that Ascolese acted in a humane manner in the situation, Bloomfield severed its animal control contract with him later in 2015.

ADDITIONAL CRUELTY CHARGES INVOLVING OTHER ANIMALS THROWN OUT(!)

As part of the plea deal, the NJSPCA said, additional animal cruelty charges against Ascolese, stemming from an August 2015 state health department inspection of his shelter, were dismissed. 

Those charges included failing to provide necessary vet care to a dog and a baby squirrel at the shelter, the group said.

"Over the last 18 months NJSPCA has worked closely with local prosecutors to bring this case to a resolution," said NJSPCA Chief Colonel Frank Rizzo.

"We were confident when we filed the charges back in 2015 and remained confident as we moved this case through the judicial process. We are satisfied with outcome."

Lisa, too, said he was satisfied with the outcome of his case.

"Now he can go on with his life," he said.

Can the baby deer which had its throat slit "go on with his life"?

(NJ.com - March 10, 2017)

Earlier

• Animal control officer, Vincent Ascolese, 48, accused of animal cruelty, cutting fawn’s throat

Canada: Orphaned Quebec deer allowed to return to adoptive family

CANADA -- An orphaned deer that was taken from her adoptive family in the Laurentians will soon be allowed to return home.

Gabrielle Fallu, a spokesperson for Wildlife Minister Luc Blanchette, confirmed the news to CBC Friday morning.

The deer was adopted by Brigitte Thomas and her husband four years ago after its mother was killed in a car accident. They named the deer May for the month she was born.

A cryptic note was posted on a Facebook page that Thomas set up called "Save May" late Thursday.

"Just a little wink to tell you that my parents and I will give you some news when I'm back at the house. I promise.  May xox," the note read.

Ministry grants special permit

Wildlife agents came to the family home Monday, acting on an anonymous tip, and seized the deer.  It's illegal to keep wildlife as pets in Quebec.

In an earlier post Thursday, Thomas wrote that she had been working with Wildlife Ministry officials to come to a solution.

Fallu told CBC that the agents visited the family home Thursday to inspect the property and ensure it has adequate fencing and facilities for May.

She said the ministry will make a special exception and grant the family a permit to keep May, given the unique circumstances of the case.

Fallu added that this does not mean that anyone in Quebec can keep deer in their home, and if anyone comes across an orphaned or injured deer they should contact the ministry immediately.

She said May should be back home within a few days.

Part of the family
In an interview with CBC earlier this week, Thomas said May was like part of the family.

She's housetrained, and often sits on a big cushion and watches TV with them.

About 23,000 people signed an online petition, set up by Thomas, asking the government to send May back home.

Sending wrong message

Not everyone agreed with the ministry's decision to return May to her adoptive family.

David Rodrigue, who is the executive director of the Ecomuseum Zoo in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, told CBC Montreal's Homerun that having May return home is sending the wrong message.

"White-tailed deer are not pets and they shouldn't be," said Rodrigue, adding that wildlife regulations are in place for a reason.

Rodigue said he was concerned others might now think it's acceptable to pick up or nurse injured baby animals.

Once the animals are taken in by humans, they will not be able to return to the wild, he said.

"I know it sounds harsh, but, as much as we want to project our emotions on them, it's really not helping them," said Rodrigue.

If someone does come across an injured baby animal, like a deer, Rodrigue said to leave it alone.

"Fawns get killed every day in the forest," he said. "It's part of the ecosystem and that's how other animals feed."

Rodrigue said if someone comes across an injured adult, it's best to contact a wildlife rehab facility who will have a better chance of reintegrating it into the wild after it heals.

(CBC News - Dec 3, 2016)

Earlier:

• Canada: Quebec family fights to keep its pet deer