Deer in distress in Kenora, Ont., sparks calls from resident for more wildlife support

Every day, Deena Foy's dog receives a visit in the yard from one particular deer.

The animals sit and stare at each other until the doe moves on to its usual grazing spots around Kenora, Ont., and then comes back in the morning.

"It's a regular thing," Foy told CBC News.

But on Monday, Foy noticed something wrong with her dog's wild friend: it had something wrapped around its head and neck.

It appeared to be a tomato cage or some other type of garden planter.

"She looked so miserable sitting there with this thing around her head," Foy said.

Ministry of Natural Resources responds

After bringing her dog inside, Foy said she didn't know what to do. She couldn't find any information on the city's website, so she called the Ontario Provincial Police's (OPP) non-emergency line.

From there, she was directed to the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), but was told no one was able to help.

She posted a photo of the deer on Facebook to ask other people for advice, but there were more jokes in the comments section about the deer's appearance than empathy for its predicament.

"Yes, deer can be a nuisance, but there's still a spirit. They're still an animal — they deserve the help, right?" Foy said. "I don't want them to suffer."

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Like clockwork, the doe came back to Foy's yard on Tuesday – tomato cage and all. While Foy was afraid to approach the animal herself, she finally connected with MNR officers, who told her they regularly receive calls about animals in trouble.

"MNR district staff are currently out in the community attempting to locate the deer. If the deer is located, MNR staff will assess the situation and look to safely assist the distressed deer," Mike Fenn, a spokesperson for the MNR, told CBC News in an email around on Tuesday afternoon.

Foy's main takeaway is that more needs to be done to educate the public about what to do if they see an animal in distress. Not just in Kenora, but across northern Ontario where deer, and other wildlife are a part of everyday life.

"It would be helpful to have on the city website, just a contact number in case you see an injured animal," she said.

"Or for instance, we had foxes around the area that were a nuisance and were putting people in danger because they were scavenging around the area — if there's stuff like that, who do you call?"

The role of wildlife custodians

Heather Pihulak, the City of Kenora's director of corporate services, told CBC News in an email Tuesday that the city doesn't handle wildlife calls.

"The city has no jurisdiction on wildlife, and responses to wild animals in distress rest with the MNR. For urgent, critical distress, the OPP will respond, but not to a situation like this where the animal is not suffering," Pihulak wrote.

Meanwhile, the MNR encourages people who encounter sick, injured or orphaned wildlife "to handle the situation with care."

A herd of deer are seen hanging out in Deena Foy's yard in Kenora, Ont., in this photo from April 2024. (Submitted by Deena Foy)

"First, avoid removing the animal from its natural habitat unless absolutely necessary, as this can often do more harm than good. Instead, contact a licensed wildlife custodian for advice — they're the only ones legally authorized to provide temporary care to wildlife in Ontario."

The province's website says Ontario has about 70 wildlife custodians.

There is a public list online of authorized wildlife rehabilitators – updated last June – but there is no one from Kenora on the list. The closest wildlife custodian is in Thunder Bay, but they only handle raptors.

"When handling wildlife, protect yourself by using personal protective equipment like gloves. If the animal appears to be sick or dead, report it to the Canadian Wildlife Health Co-operative (by phone at 1-866-673-4781 or online) to help monitor wildlife diseases," Fenn said.

"Remember, the best way to help is often by leaving the animal in its natural environment and seeking professional guidance."

As for Foy, she said she'll let CBC News know if the doe comes back to greet its canine companion — hopefully, with fewer garden accessories.