While driving through a neighborhood near the woods, a woman spotted a young deer trapped in a backyard soccer net, struggling to breathe, with no one else stepping in to help.
Unable to get assistance by phone, lacking a knife, and getting no response when she yelled out, she decided to try to free the animal herself.
Here's what to know
According to the post on Reddit's r/AnimalRescue, she was headed to work when she noticed the deer caught in nylon netting.
She said the material had tightened around the animal's neck to the point that, in her words, "I didn't have a knife and I thought he was going to choke to death."
Describing the rescue, she wrote, "I wrestled with the tangle of cords for a couple minutes yelling 'help!' No one came. I was able to yank the super tangled nylon cords over his tiny horn nubs at the last minute as it looked like he was on his last breaths."
During the struggle, the deer kicked her legs several times, though she said neither she nor the animal suffered major injuries.
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As soon as it was loose, the deer ran straight back into the woods, and she said, "he must've been mostly ok if he could move that fast."
She also said the rescue left her so muddy that she had to borrow clothes once she got to work.
More background
Backyard sports nets, fencing, cords, and other loose materials can put wild animals at risk, especially in neighborhoods bordering wooded areas.
Deer can become snagged while jumping or exploring, and panic can make the entanglement worse.
She was also putting herself at risk, since frightened wildlife can injure rescuers while trying to break free.
One commenter praised her for stepping in to help while also offering a suggestion for a useful tool that may help other trapped animals in need: "Good work! Get one of those seat belt cutters to keep in your car."
Another Redditor praised the driver's instinct to stop and help, while the original poster wrote, "It feels amazing knowing I saved a life."
What can be done?
Loose soccer nets, decorative mesh, exposed cords, and damaged fencing can all become traps, particularly in areas where deer and other animals regularly pass through.
Panicked animals can kick, bite, or bolt suddenly, so even a successful rescue can turn dangerous in seconds.
She said that after the deer disappeared back into the forest, she sat down for a few minutes to recover before continuing on to work.
Where can I learn more?
This deer wasn't the only wild animal put at risk by everyday items left outdoors. These articles look at littering cases and other choices in neighborhoods and along trails that can either harm habitat or help restore it.
• In U.K. woodlands, volunteers found plastic waste trapping animals and leaving heartbreaking injuries behind.
• In Tennessee, neighbors launched a native seed movement to rebuild habitat block by block.
• In Iceland, guides warned that stacked trail rocks can damage fragile ground wildlife also uses.
They remind us that what people leave in yards, woods, and along trails can have real consequences for wildlife. For animals traveling through residential areas, an everyday object can unintentionally trap or harm an animal.
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