Louisiana Wildlife Officials Killed a Blind Deer After a Family Nursed It Back to Health

[Ban Hammer 14,407]

When a Louisiana family agreed to nurse a blind deer back to health, they were looking to do the right thing and didn't want any trouble. But that's exactly what they got last December. 

In 2018, a woman in Baton Rouge found a blind fawn that had been abandoned by its mother. The woman contacted Jen Sibley, who agreed to take care of the deer at her expansive property in Livingston Parish, reports WAFB, a local CBS affiliate.  
After finding the deer on the property, agents "seized the animal and euthanized it," according to WAFB. "My son's in tears," Sibley told WAFB. "I got him off the couch watching cartoons right before our family Christmas party to come tell his deer goodbye. They came and darted him. He was laying in his bedding area for 20 minutes. They shot him with a dart and then had to shoot him again."

When a Louisiana family agreed to nurse a blind deer back to health, they were looking to do the right thing and didn't want any trouble. But that's exactly what they got last December.  In 2018, a woman in Baton Rouge found a blind fawn that had been abandoned by its mother. The woman contacted Jen Sibley, who agreed to take care of the deer at her expansive property in Livingston Parish, reports WAFB, a local CBS affiliate.   The deer, which the family affectionately named "Little Buck," eventually regained its health and lived with the Sibleys for seven years. Although Little Buck had a pen on the property, he was free to leave at any point but never did.

On December 22, 2024, officials from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries showed up at the Sibleys' door after receiving an anonymous tip that Little Buck was living on the property. Louisiana law only allows individuals to possess in captivity "certain sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife"—which does not include deer—for up to 90 days.  

After finding the deer on the property, agents "seized the animal and euthanized it," according to WAFB. "My son's in tears," Sibley told WAFB. "I got him off the couch watching cartoons right before our family Christmas party to come tell his deer goodbye. They came and darted him. He was laying in his bedding area for 20 minutes. They shot him with a dart and then had to shoot him again."

The family was then fined over $1,600. Trevor, Jaci's husband, was criminally charged with possessing the deer. Prosecutors ultimately declined to move the case forward and dropped the fine and criminal charge.   The incident has outraged many, including Louisiana state Rep. Lauren Ventrella (R–Greenwell Spring). Ventrella tells Reason she can list countless reports of animals being confiscated in the area, including one case last week where a fawn was killed after being seized by a good Samaritan.

more at https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/louisiana-wildlife-officials-killed-blind-210521669.html
 

[Ban Hammer 14,407]

this reminds me of that famous saying from the vietnam war, but modified for this craziness.
"we had to kill the animal to save it."

[TBoneTX 47,811]

The law, and fulfillment of it, seem extreme.

4 hours ago, Ban Hammer said:

blind deer

Different from a deer blind.