NEWS

 

Davidson’s green spaces, parks, and backyards provide a home to deer, raccoon, coyotes, foxes, opossums, squirrels, skunks, turtles, snakes, raptors, and countless back-yard birds. In our increasingly crowded town, humans and wildlife can co-exist, but conflicts are inevitable.

Human development encroaches on animal habitat, roads make animal movement treacherous, poisons designed for rodents can sicken and kill raptors and other wildlife. Unwanted critters can move into our homes or yards, often causing damage. There are also animal diseases that potentially threaten entire species and require vigilant monitoring and adaptability on the part of humans.

We all have wildlife stories. Some are heartbreaking, others uplifting. Human behavior and views with respect to wildlife are governed by our individual experiences and upbringing, but also by a complex network of statutes and regulations, most of which are not widely understood except by wildlife experts.

A question arose recently in Davidson related to the possibility of transporting an injured deer for rehabilitation after being struck by a car.

A (Sad) Deer Story

Recently, at the corner of Griffith Street and Watson Street, a small group of worried bystanders attempted to come to the aid of a seriously injured deer.

The animal had sprung out of the wooded lots lining Griffith Street and had been struck by a car. After being struck, the deer apparently bounded across Griffith Street and out of the road, but then lay immobilized on the sidewalk at the corner of Griffith and Watson.

One of the group of bystanders was Davidson resident Alex Wasowicz. He came upon the group gathered around the deer as he was driving down Watson Street toward Griffith. It was about 6:30 p.m., the time of day when deer are active, and motorists face the challenges of glare from a setting autumn sun. While Wasowicz did not see the accident occur, he saw that the car that struck the deer had pulled over and appeared undamaged.

According to Wasowicz, the group observed that the deer did not appear to be in pain and seemed calm. They wondered if perhaps it could be saved. “We talked about trying to get the animal to a vet. We talked about rehabilitation.” He said that one bystander in the group “tried calling her veterinarian for advice and assistance. She was willing to pay all the costs.” Another one of the bystanders got down on the ground with the deer and placed his hands on the deer, feeling for injuries. The animal could not stand.

Davidson Police Officers arrived on the scene to assess the situation. After speaking with the motorist and one or two bystanders, the officers began to clear the area around the deer.

After much reluctance and frustration, the bystanders walked away from the scene. The officers then, having cleared the area, euthanized the deer. While most bystanders looked away, Wascowicz turned back to see the shooting. “I felt that someone should be a witness to this animal’s death,” he said.

After reviewing the difficult incident, the Davidson Police issued a statement to both News of Davidson and Cornelius Today. The full statement may be accessed here.

“An investigation took place regarding the incident including review of the body-worn camera (BWC) footage, which captured a difficult situation involving an injured deer. The deer sustained severe injuries, including broken hips and both legs, making it impossible for the animal to stand on its own.”

“A passerby who examined the deer confirmed its injuries, and made clear the animal would not survive if left to suffer. Euthanizing the deer onsite was determined the most appropriate and humane course of action.”

“Our officers are trained in wildlife management and have practical experience in these types of situations. Police do not transport injured deer in vehicles, nor do they allow private individuals to do so.”

Reflecting on the incident, Wasowicz believes that “there are times when euthanasia is merciful and just.” Yet even several days later, he feels frustrated and haunted. “I can’t help but feel guilty that we couldn’t do something more to help save the animal. It all happened too fast. Its life mattered.”

Rehabilitation of Injured Adult Deer

For the seriously injured deer in Davidson, no good outcome was possible under current North Carolina law. In North Carolina, adult white-tailed deer cannot be legally rehabilitated.

In North Carolina, it is generally illegal to possess or transport wildlife, live or dead; however, there are instances where transporting wildlife is permitted by specific law or regulation. One example is that licensed hunters can transport dead wildlife to their homes or to a processing facility after the wildlife has been lawfully taken (N.C.G.S. §291.2). Under certain circumstances, when authorized by a wildlife commission employee or law enforcement officer, a regular citizen can transport a deer that has been accidentally killed by a motorist. Sometimes people may request the deer carcasses for personal use or donation (15A NCAC 10b.0127). Licensed taxidermists and veterinarians are authorized to possess and transport wildlife in certain circumstances in order to perform their jobs.

One important exception to the ban on possessing live wildlife is to permit unlicensed individuals to take temporary possession of injured or orphaned wildlife for the purposes of surrendering the wildlife to a veterinarian or to a licensed rehabilitation specialist for rehabilitation (15A NCAC 10H .1402). However, this exception does not apply to adult white-tailed deer, elk, adult black bear, coyote, feral swine, or endangered species.

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) is the state government agency authorized to conserve and sustain the state’s fish and wildlife resources “through research, scientific management, wise use and public input.” The NCWRC promulgates rules, adopted under authority granted by statute, that interpret and assist in implementing statutes related to wildlife resources.

Falyn Owens is the Wildlife Extension Biologist for the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. Owens specializes in human-wildlife interactions and conflict prevention, as well as wildlife disease management.

Speaking with News of Davidson from Raleigh, Owens confirmed that it is not legal under North Carolina law to transport a live, adult white-tailed deer for treatment or rehabilitation. It is a hard answer, but it is definitive.

Owens explained that the primary reason North Carolina does not authorize the rehabilitation of injured adult deer is because of extremely poor prognosis for recovery.

She explained that “deer are wild animals who become dangerously stressed in captivity.” Deer and other cervids including elk are especially susceptible to a serious and fatal condition known as “capture myopathy.” Owens said that “deer subjected to even temporary captivity frequently experience stress-induced shock that quickly becomes catastrophic, then fatal.”

Long time Davidson veterinarian, Dr. Dick Hay, provided an interesting historical perspective that echoes the difficulty of attempting to treat or rehabilitate injured deer. He explained that in the past, vets “did all kinds of care on injured wildlife, and then would connect with a rehabber who had the facility and ability to care for the injured animal.” But Dr. Hay stated that even in the past when rehabilitation may have been possible, he would have recommended that a deer with two broken or severely injured back legs be euthanized.

Dr. Hay explained, “I know it seems cruel, but there are many issues here – the safety of the people trying to transport and treat injured wildlife that is of considerable size and strength, the likelihood of successful treatment, the pain and stress levels of this already severely injured animal.” He concluded, “I think the police officer did a real service to this poor, injured deer by preventing any further suffering.”

Even though North Carolina law does not allow injured adult deer to be transported or rehabilitated, the Wildlife Commission does not expect people to leave a severely injured deer to suffer. If the animal is able to move on its own, the Wildlife Commission recommends leaving it alone, as recovery in the wild is often possible.

However, when a deer is severely injured and cannot move, citizens should contact NC Wildlife Helpline at 866-318-2401 (Mon-Fri. 8 am- 5 pm) or the Wildlife Enforcement Division at 800-662-7137 outside of business hours.  The wildlife expert staffing the hotline can offer guidance and may be able to send a Wildlife Enforcement Officer or a biologist to the location of the injured animal.

Avoiding vehicle collisions with deer isn’t always possible, and Davidson Police reported that “deer strikes are a common occurrence in Davidson.” To reduce the risk of hitting and injuring deer with vehicles, the Davidson Police Department provided the following suggestions:

November is deer mating season, which is when the highest number of deer collisions occur. Drivers should always be vigilant but especially during deer mating season. 

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety recommends the following actions while driving to avoid hitting a deer or other wild animals: 

• Use high beam headlights at night when there is no approaching traffic. The lights will illumine the eyes of the deer on or near the road. If you see one deer, there may be others nearby as well.
• Know their most active times. Deer are most active during dawn and dusk. Take extra precautions during these times.
• In wooded or farmland areas, particularly where deer crossing signs are posted, decrease your speed, and increase your distance from the vehicle in front of you.
• If you see deer in the middle of the road, slow down and honk your horn to encourage the deer to move. If the deer remains in the road, turn on your hazard lights and wait for the deer to move.
• Do not swerve to avoid striking a deer, it is better to hit the animal while keeping control of your vehicle.

What to do if you hit a deer or other animal on the road:

• Pull over to the side of the road. Put your hazard lights on and contact the police or NC Department of Wildlife to report the incident.
• Stay away from the animal. If it is still alive it could be in distress and dangerous. Wait for the authorities to arrive.
• Document the incident. Take photos of any damage to the vehicle and the surroundings. They could be used to file an insurance claim.
• In North Carolina, you are not required to file a separate accident report specifically for hitting a deer unless there is human injury, significant property damage, or if you plan to file an insurance claim for the vehicle damage; in such cases, you should contact the police and file a report.

Chronic Wasting Disease in North Carolina

News of Davidson also asked Wildlife Extension Biologist Owens for additional information about the occurrence of Chronic Wasting Disease in North Carolina. Owens stated that CWD is another serious complicating factor with respect to moving deer, deer carcasses, or deer parts around North Carolina.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a transmissible neurological disease that affects deer and other cervids such as elk, moose and reindeer/caribou. CWD is always fatal. The first documented case of CWD was detected in North Carolina in a deer harvested in 2021 in Yadkin County. In response, CWD Surveillance Areas with special regulations were established. As of April 2024, there have been 24 positive cases of CWD found in NC through testing deer samples.

Owens says that constant monitoring and testing of deer samples is occurring in all counties. “CWD is a slow-moving disease that over time, sometimes decades, begins to impact wildlife resources at the population level, resulting in dramatic population decreases,” says Owens. While many people see deer overpopulation as a problem and wouldn’t mind smaller numbers of deer, Owens says that population control is managed best with hunting. CWD has the potential to devastate an entire population.

While CWD has never been shown to jump to humans or other animals that ingest venison or deer carcasses, it is still a serious disease that is being monitored and studied very carefully. Owens stresses that the “physical, intellectual, and scientific resources that are being committed to staying in front of the spread of CWD in NC cannot be underestimated.”

Rehabilitation of Other Wildlife

While adult white-tailed deer are subject to strict prohibitions on transportation and rehabilitation, there are fewer limitations on rehabilitation for other (mostly smaller) wildlife in North Carolina. Rehabilitators also care for orphaned baby animals, raising them carefully with the goal of releasing them into the wild.

NC licensed wildlife rehabilitators are the only individuals who are legally allowed to possess and provide care for live wildlife. These individuals are trained and have the necessary experience to prevent dependence on humans while maximizing an orphaned or injured animal’s chance of survival upon release.

Luckily for two local orphaned baby opossums (joeys), opossums are an example of wildlife that may legally be taken to a licensed rehabilitator.

A (Mostly Happy) Opossum Story

On a cool April morning, while walking her dog, local oncology nurse Sarah Wolfson encountered an opossum lying in the road. The stoic nurse walked over to examine the opossum and found that she was dead, having been struck by a car overnight. However, Wolfson noticed movement in the opossum’s pouch and discovered two live joeys still attached to their mother.

“I saw them moving and I knew I couldn’t leave them there,” said Wolfson. Not wanting to handle the animals with her bare hands, and not having access to medical gloves, she improvised. “I thought for a minute and then decided to use two plastic doggie bags that I had with me on the walk.”

She said the two tiny joeys were still firmly attached to their mother and attempting to nurse, and that pulling them off took a bit of strength.

It was cold, and she walked home with one tiny opossum in each hand, exposing them to the sun, while juggling her dog leash. Another animal lover friend of hers had recently rescued some baby squirrels and another friend had recently rescued some joeys. Her friends passed along the name of a local wildlife rehabilitator, Carolina Wildlife Conservation Center.

Wolfson made a call to Carolina Wildlife Conservation Center, and they were able to put her in contact with a licensed rehabilitator who was willing to raise the two orphaned joeys.

Carolina Wildlife Conservation Center supports “wildlife conservation by raising and rehabilitating orphaned and injured wildlife so they may be released back to the wild. Our 105-acre conservation land includes a state-of-the-art animal clinic as well as sophisticated enclosures. The conservation land and large wildlife center allow us to care for–and successfully release–more injured and orphaned animals.”

The NC Wildlife Resources Commission maintains a full list of licensed wildlife rehabilitators that is searchable by location and type of wildlife. Wildlife Rehabilitator Database

“They were little country ‘possum babies, and I named them Lynyrd and Skynyrd,” said Wolfson.

“I was able to check on their progress as they grew. The rehabilitator who was caring for them sent me updates through texts, photos, and videos.” Wolfson still has photos and videos of Lynyrd and Skynyrd that document their growth. They were ultimately able to be released into the wild.

Some wildlife stories have happy endings.