Kirklees Valley Wildlife Rescue were called out earlier this month to tend to a deer that had found himself caught up in part of an electric fence on the nature reserve.
Fortunately, with the swift help of Kylie Chorlton, site manager of Kirklees Valley Wildlife Rescue, and her colleague, the male deer was saved and released without any injuries
Shocking footage shows the deer in distress tangled in the electric fencing before he was released safely.
The deer stuck in the electric fence (Image: Kirklees Valley Wildlife Rescue)
Kylie said she was pleased to have a successful deer release, but that recently the rescue unfortunately encountered a deer trapped in barbed wire fencing that could not be saved.
Kylie Chorlton, site manager at Kirklees Valley Wildlife Rescue (Image: Kylie Chorlton)
The 37-year-old said the best thing the public can do to help is to ensure their fences are tight and to be aware that wildlife is out earlier now that the clocks have changed.
Kylie said: “Unfortunately, the deer had got caught in the electric fencing, so we attended and restrained the deer as quickly as possible and obviously as safely as possible.
“We kept the deer calm and released it as fast as we could. It’s obviously really good to have a successful deer release.
“It’s paramount that we do it as fast as possible.
“He was absolutely panicking, quite distressed.
“Fencing is obviously quite a tricky one for deer and quite common. We are lucky in this instance that this one was okay.
“It is important with electric fencing or any kind of fencing that it’s tight because when it is loose there’s more of a chance of getting caught in it.”
She said other animals, such as foxes, badgers, and hedgehogs, are also often caught in fencing.
Kylie said: “If they [the public] see an animal like this in distress, call up local wildlife rescue as soon as possible, don’t try to approach the animal.
“If they’ve got any video footage, send that across as well.
The deer being safely released (Image: Kirklees Valley Wildlife Rescue)
“Especially when it comes to larger mammals, it’s not ideal for the public to try and release that animal for their safety and for the animal’s safety at the same time.
“Maintain any sort of fencing well. That will reduce the risk of any fencing injury to almost none if the fence is maintained.
“Especially at this time of year, just making sure that they are aware because the clocks have gone back animals are out earlier because it’s dark.
“Keep your speed low, make sure you’re doing all your observations.”