Animals

A Harsh Winter, a Dark Night, and An Unsuspecting Deer

She came out of nowhere, making it impossible to avoid her

This story first appeared in “Wishbone Words,” Vol. 11, May, 2023

It was a winter characterized by a series of back-to-back snowstorms, resulting in limited disposal options. The accumulation of snow formed towering, white, or gray mounds in parking lots and was piled up on corners, creating a challenge in locating entrances to adjacent roads.

She ran out from behind the snow

As a result of blocked vision on a corner, I accidentally hit a deer.

Although my peripheral vision is usually sharp, my car collided with her as she emerged unexpectedly from behind a snow pile. For a split second, I caught a glimpse of her body as she sped past me like a blur, continuing to run down the road past my car.

This was only the second time I had ever hit a deer, and as in the previous incident, the animal kept moving after the collision. I hoped she had gotten away safely the way the first deer had.

I immediately pulled over to the side of the road and began walking in the direction she had run, repeating to myself, “Please let her be okay, please let her be okay, please, please!”

Soon after, I spotted a substantial figure approximately 25 yards ahead of me. My heart dropped. I realized it was the deer lying on her side in a small clearing in front of a store. I hurried toward her, my heart racing.

Despite the dim light emitting from the store window, I saw her attempting to raise her head as I approached.

After several attempts to stand up, she managed to get on her feet, then stumbled after taking a few steps before collapsing, this time lying in the right lane of the roadway — at risk of being hit again.

Acting on pure adrenaline, I stood in front of her, waving my arms at passersby, trying to keep her safe. Help was needed, and I had no cell phone at the time. The first few cars passed by without stopping as they drove around us.

Someone finally stopped

Thankfully, a young couple pulled up and shined their car’s headlights on us. The woman left their car and walked over to where I was standing, while the man stayed back and called the police.

With the headlights facing her, the deer stood up again to take a few steps but stumbled and collapsed onto the parking lot surface, where she remained.

The woman stayed with me while her husband pulled their car off the road. She and I sat on the ground next to the deer, speaking softly to her and singing songs, which I don’t remember now. We both gently stroked the deer’s front legs to comfort her.

We felt helpless. She struggled to stand up again then gave up trying by the time the police arrived.

After briefly explaining to the officers what happened, we were instructed to return to our cars. The young couple left, but I expressed my desire to stay.

However, the officer advised me against it and sent me to wait in my car while he inspected it for damage. Reluctantly, I returned to my car with him walking behind me, flashlight in hand.

After inspecting the front and sides of my car, he informed me there was no damage and politely told me I was free to go.

I can’t leave yet

“No,” I protested, “the deer, what about the deer?”

“We’ll give her another five minutes, then we’ll have to shoot her.”

“Please, no,” I started begging. “She’ll get up. I know she will. She already stood up twice.”

“Well, she’s down right now and doesn’t seem to have any strength left. We can’t leave her there suffering. If you prefer to wait in your car, I’ll come back when I know more.”

As I sat in my car, appealing to the powers that be for her recovery, I couldn’t help but think about her lying on the cold ground, alone and in pain.

The urge to run back to her until she stood up again was overpowering. The thought of her suffering alone brought me to tears, and I was to blame.

It seemed as if hours passed while I waited for an update.

Then I heard a shot!

I jumped out of my car to run to her when I saw the policeman walking toward me, a figure in the dim light bringing me the bad news I already knew.

“Get back in your car, please,” he yelled out to me.

After reluctantly following his command, I was still ready to protest and opened my car window to speak with him.

“We had to shoot her,” he said. “I’m sorry, she started bleeding from her mouth!”

“I didn’t hit her that hard. There isn’t even a dent in my car. How could I have injured her so badly?” I said defending myself with tears streaming down my face.

“It wasn’t your fault,” the officer reassured me. “It’s been a tough winter, and she was already weak from lack of food. Your car happened to hit her in the right spot and probably broke a rib or two, which she couldn’t recover from.”

He seemed sympathetic as he continued, “Go home and get some rest tonight.”

Despite feeling guilty and conflicted, I understood the police were doing their job, and there was likely nothing more anyone could have done for the deer. The harsh winter had taken its toll, leaving her malnourished and vulnerable.

Her final moments

While staying with her until the police arrived may have been as much for my benefit as for hers, and though it was impossible to comfort a dying wild animal, I hoped in some small way she felt less alone and isolated on that fateful night.

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