AN RSPCA inspector and officer had the tricky task of untangling the antlers of two fallow stags which had ended up in a bind in Romsley.
The pair were running loose near Rumbow Lane and became distressed further by electric fencing tape which had also entangled both’s antlers.
RSPCA Inspector Suzi Smith and an an animal rescue officer attended the location given to them by the caller who had spotted them around 2.50pm on Saturday and used What3Words to pinpoint them.
Picture courtesy of the RSPCA. s
Suzi said as they got within 50 to 100 yards of the two stags, the pair got up and ran off.
“They were clearly very in distress as they were tied to each other and were knocking into things.
“It was evident that the best course of action would be for them to be darted so we would be able to approach them.
“However, as the light was going we knew there would not be enough time so we followed the stags down the hill into the valley in the hope they’d snag themselves to a tree.”
But each time she thought they were in an approachable position, they broke free of the tree cover and ended up under some branches over by a pond.
Picture courtesy of the RSPCA. s
Eventually, Suzi hooked a rope over an antler and pinned it to the branch.
“We then pulled them into the branch as tight as we could to secure them.”
The officer held the rope and Suzi straddled the branches to get close enough to cut the electric fencing tape.
Suzi then freed the first stag and managed to cut all the tape off the second one and free him too.
Luckily, neither stag appeared to have injuries and they returned on their way.
Suzi said: “This was a challenging rescue, but such a rewarding job to be able to successfully free both stags and we’d like to thank the caller for alerting us to their plight.”
Picture courtesy of the RSPCA. s
She added it was a timely reminder of the risks many outdoor objects, such as this electric fencing tape, posed to wildlife.
And she said, whilst it was common for male deer to get their antlers tangled up in this, the risk it poses could be minimised by ensuring such fencing was well managed, rolled up when not in use and kept taut when in use.
Visit: rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/wildlife for more on wildlife welfare and what can be done to help it.
