Some people find the idea of a domesticated deer cute, but in reality, it’s very dangerous for the animal.
That’s why a story from 2016 is doubly disturbing.
Construction workers in Fulshear, Texas saw a deer tied up in the backyard of a home under construction one day.
It’s conceivable that a deer could get caught up in some rope and subsequently stuck in a tree, but that’s not what happened. It appears someone intentionally tied it up.
And while it’s normally not wise for civilians to get near a wild animal when it’s under stress, the workers felt like they could safely free the deer.
Luckily, they managed to untie it from the tree, but it still had the rope around its antlers.
But more concerning was that the deer would not leave the area.
It simply stood on the back porch of the house.
They called 911 to have police and animal control come to investigate.
It appears the deer was domesticated.
After being cut loose from the tree and having the nylon rope removed from its antlers, the deer stuck around even longer.
The Fulshear Police posted a video of the rescue on its Facebook page, nicknaming him “Uncle Buck.”
After he was freed, he did stroll towards the woods, but came back to the home.
It was Officer Kevin Zieschang who helped remove the rope and tried to return him to his presumed natural habitat.
“I tried to spook him to get him to run back out into the woods, but he wasn’t having it. He wanted to hang out with us,” Zieschang told ABC 11.
And the buck came back multiple times too!
In fact, the neighborhood kids named him “Hank” since he became such a familiar sight.
He was so persistent that the deer returned while ABC 11 News was interviewing Officer Zieschang in the very backyard where the deer was rescued.
“He’s not scared at all!!!!” said Zieschang.
It might sound like a Disney moment but it’s not a good situation for the deer, especially since whoever originally befriended it was clearly not around to care for him any longer (or at least on a regular basis).
“So, Officer Ziechang is out here with the news media talking about the deer that was tied up yesterday and during the news conference the deer showed back up,” said the person recording the video. “He’s a good kid. I”m going to call him Uncle Buck.”
The deer nuzzled against Zieschang and let him scratch its head.
“I don’t have nothing for you man!” he told the deer.
No one was sure what to do with a domesticated deer, so when he came back yet again the next day looking for human company, the game wardens of Texas Parks and Wildlife came out to determine if the buck would need to be relocated for its own safety.
After that, there was a gap of time without news of the deer’s well-being and local viewers became curious.
“We have had several inquires as to what happened to ‘Uncle Buck,'” Fulshear Police reported on their Facebook page.
They mercifully provided concerned citizens with an update:
“Lone Star Animal Control as well as a Texas Game Warden met us this morning to relocate the extremely docile and friendly buck. The young deer was sedated by hand and after a brief struggle, he gently fell asleep. The deer was placed in a vehicle and transported to a large animal sanctuary (an individuals property; he will be loved and well taken care of) in Katy. ‘Uncle Buck’ is now safe and sound and seems to love his new protected home,” they explained.
It’s unclear if they ever found the people who originally tied the deer up, but if they do, those people could be charged with a crime, depending on the circumstances.
But the most important thing of all is that the deer is now with his own kind and well cared for by rescuers.
Be sure to scroll down below to see the interview with the officer in which “Uncle Buck” suddenly reappears.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
