Bucky [the] Deer

[scottishsetter]

"They" just released Bucky in the Bullrun Watershed.. Cut off the horns and release him in a refuge kind of means it won't be till next season for a "hunter".

But.........cougars, cars and Bears could get him until then.

[uhmw]

perfect timing I think they released him on opening day

[Amahnee]

ODFW needs to feed the predators you know. Why make them work any harder than they have too?

[jmg]

This is kinda weird but I thought I heard that they castrated him. Any ideas why they would possible do this??

[Rauly]

ODFW releases black-tailed buck into the wild
Date:

October 5 , 2007

Contact:
Todd Alsbury (971) 673-6011
Christie Scott (971) 673-6038


Salem, Ore.— Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists and a department veterinarian released the black-tailed buck that was illegally held by a Molalla family into the wild today.
According to attending veterinarian, the buck paused for a few moments to browse, and then walked off through the brush into the forest.
“It did exactly what it should have,” said Dr. Peregrine Wolff, ODFW veterinarian.
Prior to the buck’s release, state wildlife veterinarians performed a vasectomy to keep him from passing on genes with his mother’s genetic deformities.
The buck was released into the Bull Run Watershed which drains about 102 square miles of forested landscape and is home to almost 250 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish. The area requires special permits to enter, has a resident deer population, and is off-limits to hunters.
Dr. Wolff described the release site as ideal. “It’s very lush, with a lot to eat there,” she said. “It has good thermal cover and there are other deer tracks in the area.”
“We believe this is the best outcome for the deer,” said Ron Anglin, wildlife division administrator. “We believe he can survive in the wild, and have given him the opportunity to do so.”
Because of the doe’s deformities, she will not be returned to the wild. She suffers from congenital and degenerative conditions, making her permanently disabled.
“It is important that we have a very clear picture of the health condition of the doe so that an informed decision can be made that is her best interest,” Wolff said.
Currently, the doe is being given anti-inflammatory medication to alleviate pain associated with her deformities. The veterinarians have seen an improvement in the doe’s mobility and believe it will continue to improve when her hooves are trimmed. Veterinarians will trim the hooves in conjunction with taking x-rays of the doe’s joints.
State wildlife biologists remind Oregonians that, if you care about young wildlife, leave them in the wild. Every year, well-intentioned Oregonians “rescue” young animals and birds they believe have been abandoned, greatly reducing the animal's chance of survival. If you believe an animal or bird is in danger or seriously hurt, call a local ODFW office or the Oregon State Police.

[steelhead22]

Originally Posted by jmg

This is kinda weird but I thought I heard that they castrated him. Any ideas why they would possible do this??

They did. They genetically tested him to see if the other deer, "Snowball" was in fact the mother of this deer. It was, so they castrated "Bucky" so that he couldn't pass along those genes...which should have been weeded out of the gene pool years ago.

[duckboy]

Not sure if that is a sentence worse than death. Get your nards cut off, then be left to die as a tame deer in the wilderness as winter approaches.

Great.

[Beeatease]

I'll have to call my co-workers in the watershed to keep tabs on "Bucky"

I doubt he'll last very long but then again he's probably never seen a cougar or bear before so they might just frighten him.

[lor]

I wonder if ODFW did anything to acclimate him to predators.
Being able to eat and socialize is one thing.
But recongnizing danger and where it might be is something else.

Its sort of like the hatchery vs wild salmon/steelhead.
The hatchery one's learn to feed and hang around the surface. As a result they are easy prey, compared to the wild ones who hunker near the bottom.

I guess with Bucky, we are seeing an attempt with a Hatchery deer.
The first coyote pack he comes around will probably take him out, assuming his former owners had dogs.

[Capin' Dan]

Actually they fed the predator's. they cut his horns off so he really has no protection against anything. In my humble opinion the casteration, dehorning is a crime committed by our government and much worse than the family that was keeping him. He should have gone to a zoo or a wildlife preservation somewhere.
or to perhaps a food bank.

[Limbhanger]

I think the article says vasectomy, not castration.

[Prawnasorus]

Originally Posted by Limbhanger

I think the article says vasectomy, not castration.

I guess they could have released him (uncut) to pass on his superior genes to the local herd.

Whatever happened to what is legal and what is not?.

[ogrejager]

Originally Posted by Prawnasorus

I guess they could have released him (uncut) to pass on his superior genes to the local herd.

I'm thinkin' somebody needs the difference between a vasectomy and castration explained to them. There's quite a few guys out there that can probably explain how they still have fun but don't pass on any genes anymore.....