Sometimes it takes a face to really connect people to a story... In this case, that face has a long, brown snout and a big black nose.
This Whitetail Deer fawn was rescued earlier this summer in Dauphin County, after its mother became the victim of poachers. The large doe was found shot, and left to die in a field. This fawn, still too young to fend for itself, was found still living with the adult doe corpse.
The Dauphin County fawn was rescued, and taken to the Red Creek Wildlife Center in Schuylkill County. While there are a number of wildlife rehabilitators licensed and regulated by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, there are very few with the knowledge or facilities to care for fawns.
At Red Creek, the fawn was kept in a large pen with several other fawns that were rescued from other parts of the state. Some are also victims of poaching, others are orphaned when an adult doe becomes a roadkill.
While our CBS 21 News cameras were able to get up-close-and-personal with these fawns for a few minutes, don't mistake their natural curiosity for tameness. The fawns are still very wild. Throughout their rehabilitation, the small deer will only be in contact with one human on a regular basis. While an incoming fawn is given vaccinations, and food during its stay at Red Creek, their handler makes every effort to reserve unnatural interaction, or signs of affection.
In other words.......... NO PETTING!!!
Personal attachment is reserved for other species at the Wildlife Center... Here, operator Peggy Hentz holds a turtle that came in recently.
One turtle had a badly-damaged shell, caused by someone carving initials into it with a knife. Other turtles may be hit by cars, or farm equipment.
This Sulcata Tortoise is native to Africa, but ended up at Red Creek when someone made a poor decision to keep the massive reptile as a pet. It likely outgrew its intended living space, and was set free. A tortoise like this could not survive a Pennsylvania winter if it were not rescued.
Believe it... This amazing Turkey Vulture was also kept as a pet, before being abandoned.
You've probably never seen a Bard Owl in the first place... Let alone, this one that came to the Wildlife Center missing an eye!
And these beautiful red-tailed hawks are in various stages of recovery. Most of the birds will eventually be released back into the wild. Unfortunately, some of the hawks have never honed their natural hunting skills, and will have to rely on people to feed them for the rest of their lives. One hawk, not shown here, was rendered flightless after being shot.
Okay... Remember the fawns?
Last Saturday, after more than a month at Red Creek Wildlife Center, the small deer weighing up to 50 pounds each, were released back into the wild. (Photo by Lynn Dierwechter)
Rescuers don't like to divulge the location of the release, but tell CBS 21 News that these two doe and five bucks will find a new chance at life in the northern "big woods" areas of Pennsylvania. (Photo by Lynn Dierwechter)
The last picture is the toughest to see... But its the perfect end to our story. Peggy says as they drove away from the release point, the small doe rescued from Dauphin County seemed to turn its head one last time before disappearing into its new home.
I'd like to think it was saying "thanks."
For the video coverage of this story as seen on CBS 21 News, use the following link...
http://www.whptv.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoId=125667@video.whptv.com
For more on the Red Creek Wildlife Center, use this one...
http://redcreekwildlifecenter.com/
Until next time... -- Mike
