On Thursday, October 17th, 2024, the East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service (WRAS) responded to a call about a fallow buck at Weirwood Reservoir in Forest Row. The deer was found with its antlers entangled with another deer, which had unfortunately died.
WRAS regularly handles cases of deer entanglements during rutting season, but incidents involving two deer tied together are rare. This usually occurs when a buck becomes entangled in a rope that remains attached to its antlers, or when a deer is freed by someone without removing the rope, leaving it to tangle with another deer. These incidents often result in one of the deer succumbing to stress, leaving the surviving deer dragging the deceased body. At the scene, disturbed mud indicated the surviving deer had been struggling for some time.
https:///www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajJ4KXTXw28
A team of five rescuers and two veterinary ambulances were dispatched, led by WRAS founder Trevor Weeks MBE. “Navigating through the tall vegetation was challenging, and getting too close could be dangerous as the deer might swing and injure us. Patience was key,” explained Trevor. The old, tightly compacted rope required the use of wire rope cutters to free the surviving deer.
Deer are particularly prone to stress, and all wildlife is susceptible to capture myopathy—a condition caused by stress that leads to chemical changes within the body, potentially resulting in a heart attack. In these situations, rescuers have a critical 30-minute window to act before the animal’s condition becomes life-threatening. The rescue took nine minutes, slightly longer than usual, due to the difficult terrain.
Trevor shared, “The deer was more resilient than expected and even tried to pull me into the vegetation. Fortunately, Daryl and I managed to maintain control. Releasing the deer must be done carefully as it can be dangerous when frightened and stressed.”
After being freed, the deer jumped over the vegetation, paused to look back at the rescuers, and then trotted away.
East Sussex WRAS, which relies solely on donations, continues to provide vital wildlife rescues and encourages public support to sustain its operations.
