Please share if you care! Sooooo many Key deer are seen limping. Here’s what to do:

Limping in Key deer.

By far, the most common Key Deer concern reported to us is limping. Limping can range from a slight favoring of a limb to severe inability to bear weight. If you see a limping deer, observe it from a safe distance. If the deer is mobile and able to move around, it’s likely best to leave it alone. Deer are surprisingly resilient and can often recover from injuries on their own. Capture a video of it walking, and take a clear, high-resolution photo of the limb. If the deer is clearly in distress, unable to walk or stand, please call the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922 ext. #1 and keep the deer in view until a wildlife officer arrives. (NOTE: The current FWC Hotline call may or may not result in a response. The FWC officers generally have no training in dealing with Key deer and virtually no equipment to capture a deer other than an occasional dog-catcher noose. A logical solution to the existing deer emergency response inefficiency would be to form a select, specially trained group of volunteers (as SOKD did), acting as the FWC’s “Agents” to respond to Key deer issues and thus free their law enforcement officers of deer-response duties. Unfortunately, the USFWS/ES will not allow us to assist, even though we hold an FWC rehabilitation permit and FWC-approved Key deer rehabilitation enclosures, equipment, experience, and a team. We are in contact with the office of US Senator Rick Scott for assistance in gaining permission. (My recent offer to the local refuge to collaborate on a Ship’s Way deer entanglement case unfortunately resulted in no follow-through that I am aware of on their part.)

There are many causes of limping in Key deer, all the way from simply stepping on a thorn to a compound fracture from a motor-vehicle strike. Let’s review the possible causes, how to assess and report limping, and the current available options:

• Entanglement. Anything from unsecured fishing line to a discarded piece of PVC can become entangled on the foot or leg of a deer. This is unbelievably and unfortunately common. Set your phone’s camera to high resolution/quality and take a photo. Contact the FWC hotline immediately and keep the deer in view until help arrives. Entanglements in Key deer have resulted in severe pain, infection, lameness, and death. Please secure and discard any plastic rings or fishing lines that may become a painful entanglement for wildlife, even if they are not your trash.

• Stepped on a sand burr or thorn. No abnormality seen – no swelling, entanglement, bleeding, deformity, or infection. May not be able to bear weight on the affected foot. This will eventually resolve on its own. Monitor for worsening.

• Strain or sprain. Swelling may be seen. No bleeding, entanglement, or infection. This will likely resolve on its own. Monitor for worsening.

• Trauma. Deer can injure their legs in various ways, such as getting caught in fences, running into objects, during the rut, or being involved in vehicle collisions. Laceration, bleeding, new swelling, abrasion, or deformity may be noted. Obtain a high-quality photo and/or video, and report the issue to the FWC hotline. An officer will respond to severe injuries.

• Fracture or dislocation. Leg fractures from human-caused events such as motor-vehicle strikes should be treated, especially in fawns, since they experience less stress than adults in captivity, for rehabilitation. (See attached photo of a fawn recovering from ORIF surgery of leg fracture at Out-Back Wildlife Rehab in Michigan.) Local vets used to set fractured legs in Key deer; however, the current USFWS/Ecological Services agencies do not allow it. Some fractures will fuse on their own, and the deer will live a relatively normal life. Compound fractures, however, are extremely painful and a risk for severe infection. Euthanasia may be the most compassionate option. Contact the FWC Hotline.

• Hoof problems. Key deer can experience painful laminitis or foundering (foot tenderness due to inflammation) from a “hot” diet that may include excessive carbohydrates, such as grains, cereals, corn, bread, and even carrots or grapes. If the carb-rich diet is continued, it will lead to hoof deformity and lameness. Stop all supplemental feeding immediately.

• Infection. Deer can experience bacterial foot rot in moist, tropical conditions. Another potential hoof issue can be caused by being a survivor of viral Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD). There may be separation or sloughing of the hoof wall. Some infections can be successfully treated; however, at this time, it is generally not allowed by USFWS/ES. Monitor for quality of life.

• Neurological issue. Deer can have various neurological disorders, such as “circling”, for example, from brain infection, disease, or trauma. Contact the FWC Hotline and keep the animal in view until help arrives.

• Old age. Older deer may develop arthritis or other age-related conditions that cause them to limp. Monitor for quality of life.
The bottom line is deer can live fine with the use of only three legs; however, if you notice it is not thriving (becoming emaciated or depressed), then the most compassionate option may be euthanasia.

A severe injury, compound fracture, inability to stand or walk, trapped, or an entanglement is urgent and deserves quick assessment and intervention. Keep an eye on the deer and continue to call the hotline until the issue is addressed.

For more information, please visit www.SaveOurKeyDeer.org