This orphaned young deer is being nursed back to good health by carers at Secret World Wildlife Rescue Centre, near Burnham-On-Sea.
The roe deer, who has been called Gendry by the team at the centre in East Huntspill, was brought in earlier this year and has just been moved to a temporary enclosure at his release site ahead of being released back into the wild.
Pauline Kidner, Secret World founder, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “Gendry came to us as a very young roe fawn after being seen by a Cheddar farmer on his tractor. He could see foxes circling around and no mum in sight, so picked the fawn up.”
“The farmer’s wife kindly brought the tiny deer into us, wrapped in a blanket. He was very nervous but was soon taking a bottle.”
“The first few days were spent close to his carer in a domestic unit but he was soon strong enough to go out into the fawn paddock.”
“A short while after he was joined by another roe fawn who was a little older but had been hit in a car accident. He ran into a nearby garage and the mother was nowhere to be found was collected by animal carers at Secret World.”
“Gendry and the second roe fawn bonded. They have spent their first few months at Secret World but have now gone to their new home.”
“They will be held in a temporary pen for a while with an opportunity of coming close to the roe deer that live there. Once relaxed and settled, they will be allowed to leave their pen to join the herd.”
She added: “From September onwards we start releasing many orphans that are now self-sufficient. It takes a lot of time for our Release Manager whose job it is to find new homes for the many orphans that we care for.”
“We try to copy what goes on in nature and choose the time when the animals would naturally disperse. Certain species, such as swallow and swifts, have to be released in time to be able to start their migration journeys to warmer climates.”
“We try to ‘soft’ release animals, which means a pen or aviary is put up in the new location and this gives the animals chance to get to know their new area and also, when the trap doors are opened, they know they can come back for food that the landowner provides until they are able to survive on their own. There is no point in putting so much in to rearing the orphans, if you’re not going to give them the best chance of survival when released.”
“So it’s goodbye to so many animals that we have cared for from the badgers, foxes, owls, fawns and many more then it is time to repair and get ready for the next season.”
- Secret World is holding an open day this Sunday, September 15th, from 12 noon to 8 p.m. with fun, games for all ages, a bar and food. There will be plenty to do with children’s crafts, stalls, music and entertaining challenges. Admission is £5 for adults and £2 for children. All proceeds go to the care of wildlife casualties coming through the door every day throughout the year. There will also be an It’s A Knockout course in place.
