(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)

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)

New York: Someone found a baby raccoon and brought it into a bar so the health department killed 12 more that hadn't been touched by humans

NEW YORK -- Apparently someone found a baby raccoon and thought it was a good idea to bring it in to Mr. Quiggleys Saloon in Lockport on June 2. During the visit, the health department says several people handled and petted the baby raccoon.

Investigators found that the baby raccoon was one of 13 found on Donner Road in the Town of Pendleton.

Of those 13, one was found dead and 12 others were killed. Of course the health department claims that because the one baby raccoon was handled, they just HAD to kill all the others. And because the dead one was too decomposed to be tested for rabies, they are presuming that EVERYONE who touched the baby raccoon in the bar has been exposed to rabies and they want them to all begin post-exposure rabies shots.

There was no need to kill all the baby raccoons as there was no proof that any human had handled them. The only one they knew had been handled was the one in the bar. So kill that one and test it for rabies. If it comes back negative, they'll know that the people in the bar weren't exposed to rabies. And the other orphaned baby raccoons could have been sent to a wildlife rehabilitator.

This, though, is typical of most health departments and wildlife officers who work for state Fish & Game agencies. Kill everything.

If you find an orphaned animal that is one of the high-risk rabies carriers (raccoons, skunks, foxes, coyotes), be sure not to handle it. Find a wildlife rehabilitator who is licensed to have them and have them come and get it. Otherwise, the state will take it from you and kill it.

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


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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)

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

CANADA -- Moko the crow won't be flying the coop any time soon — at least according to the bird's owner, who says a Quebec judge has given him permission to keep his pet.

Simon Perusse says he went to court to argue against a $650 fine levied against him by the province's Wildlife Department for keeping a wild animal in captivity without a permit.

Perusse said he took steps to get a permit in 2015 after a landlord complained about the bird, but was instead fined and informed that his precious feathered friend would be seized if the fine was upheld.

"I was told I could plead guilty and they would take Moko and I'd pay $650 and they'd euthanize him, or I could wait for the court's judgment," the 51-year-old Quebec City man said in a telephone interview.

The province requires a permit to keep wild animals in captivity, and they generally aren't allowed as pets.

But Perusse said a judge's ruling Thursday allows him to keep the bird he nursed back to health after it fell out of a nest and broke a wing at two weeks old.

He said the judge recognized Moko couldn't fly or survive in the wild and noted the magistrate also pointed out there are no permits available for crows.

"They were blaming me for not getting a permit that didn't exist," he said.

He says his bird, who he believes is a male, is an affectionate pet who often sits on his shoulder as he works as a guide on a traditional Huron site.

"Crows are very intelligent, very interactive" he said. "When I dance to music while cleaning the house he dances on his perch. I've had a lot of pets and this is one of the best I've had."

Perusse, who is Metis, says helping wildlife is part of traditional First Nations culture.

A government spokesman could not immediately respond to a request for comment.

(Times Colonist - Jan 5, 2017)

Earlier:

• Canada: Simon Pérusse fighting to keep pet crow 'Moko'

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