Published: Wednesday, 21st May, 2008 10:00
Oh, Deer!
By Kevin Dyson
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THERE was double dose of deer drama in Irvine and Kilwinning on Monday morning as emergency crews and animal rescue came to the aid of not one but two trapped fawns.
Firstly, staff at the Scottish Maritime Museum were met with an unusual visitor at 8am, after a distressed young deer became trapped in railings surrounding the centre.
Employees at the Harbourside museum arrived to find the animal stuck between two of the iron bars in the railings. Although it was not clear how it had become stuck one staff member suggested that something may have chased the deer after it strayed from its parents.
Later in the morning an SSPCA officer arrived at the scene and attempted to dislodge the animal, before deciding to bring in some extra muscle when the fawn become distressed, flailing wildly against the fence.
Around 10am the officer returned with help at hand - a fire crew from Dreghorn Fire Station bringing with them powerful hydraulic equipment.
Using the hydraulic jacks, normally used to free people trapped in vehicles, the officers managed to prise the railings apart allowing the SSPCA officer to free the young deer.
After being given a thorough examination the animal was released back into the wild.
The drama was not over though, as another of the animals became stuck in the railings of the old St. Michael’s Academy in Kilwinning around 12.30pm on the same day.
Hessilhead Wildlife Rehabilitation officer David O’ Reilly told the Times that he, Leianne Rall and Shelby Wilson from the centre arrived to free the young buck around 1pm.
He said: “We had to sedate the wee fella so we could get him out. Fortunately there was a police officer who helped us bend the rails.
“The deer injured himself and we will look after him at the centre until he is fit to be released back into the wild.”
David told us that there were more and more sightings of wild deer throughout the area, particularly in Irvine where there are plenty of open spaces between estates. “I would say that people shouldn’t spook them as they can run out onto roads, and they don’t know the highway code, or try to get through fences like this wee fella.”
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