A woman tragically lost her life to a deer she had rescued and tried to domesticate when the animal unexpectedly attacked her. Jodi Proger, a 64-year-old grandmother, was fatally injured by the deer on November 15 while she was confined with it in an enclosure. Her involvement with rescuing deer began in 2013 after witnessing a doe being hit by a car on a highway.
Jodi’s rescue efforts extended to a fawn that she found near its deceased mother by the roadside, which she named Wheezer. Despite facing opposition from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Jodi successfully retained custody of Wheezer after threats of euthanization.
Describing Wheezer as akin to a dog in a 2015 interview, Jodi’s social media showcased her close bond with the deer, often featuring them in coordinated outfits for various occasions. Before her untimely death, Jodi had brought home several other deer, as documented in her Facebook posts. Following the incident, Jodi’s daughter clarified that Wheezer was not responsible for the fatal attack, emphasizing that he had been neutered as required by the authorities.
Acknowledging her mother’s dedication to animal rescue and care, Jennifer Bryan defended Jodi’s actions and urged respect and privacy for their grieving family. Jodi, a licensed animal caregiver, is now the subject of an investigation by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to determine the circumstances surrounding her death.
While deer-related fatalities in the US primarily stem from vehicle collisions, they account for a significant portion of wildlife-related deaths in the country.