Stuck in the mud! Deer rescued from Wisbech river

RSPCA inspectors joined forces with the fire service last weekend to free a deer who had become stuck on the mud banks of the River Nene in Wisbech.

The charity received a number of calls from worried locals last Sunday (18 June) who had spotted the deer in distress that morning, while they were out enjoying the hot weather.

The deer was trapped in the river in the harbour near to the Police Station, and was standing on the muddy banks at low tide unable to free himself.

RSPCA inspector Jon Knight, who was called to the rescue said: “When I arrived this poor deer was in a real fix. He had most likely wandered over from the common land nearby, but stumbled down into the river banks, swam to the harbour and with the walls being so steep and high he just wasn’t able to get himself out again.

“Wild animals like muntjac deer can be very unpredictable, and with this being a buck, I knew I would need help from the fire service to reach him in the water and then get him to the safety of the floating pontoons. When the team from Wisbech Fire Station arrived, they launched a raft on the water.

“By this point the deer had gone into the water and was swimming around looking for another way out, but we soon managed to use the raft to encourage him towards the bank where we could get close enough to secure him with a net and bring him back to safety.”

Inspector Knight, with the help of fire officer Matthew Johnson, a former RSPCA animal collection officer, checked the deer over for signs of injury.

He added: “The deer had a minor eye injury and was too exhausted to release back to the wild straight away, so I transported him to the RSPCA’s East Winch Wildlife Centre for further care and checks, where he is said to be responding well to treatment. The team is hopeful the muntjac deer can be released back to the wild, under licence, in the near future.”

If you see a wild animal in distress, keep a safe distance away and call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.

To support the work of the RSPCA and help the charity continue to rescue wild animals please text LOVE to 87023 to give £3 (Text costs £3 + one standard network rate message).