Every season a new batch of deer is born on Foxglove Ranch. Because it’s increasingly difficult for deer to escape humans on-island, they’ve retreated to the ranch’s ten acres out at Cowan’s Point.
“Through the years we’ve developed a good relationship with the local deer,” says owner Daphne Fargher.
The farm grows fruit and berries. They feed the orchard prunings to the deer, and in exchange, the deer don’t eat their crops.
A couple of weeks ago, about eight new fawns were born on the property. A yearling doe gave birth to twins, one of which had a severe limp.
The mother and twin tried the best they could to nurture the young animal.
“They both were very attentive and helped groom her and kept her in a safe nest under some large trees,” says Fargher.
But the fawn grew weaker and thinner. Last Sunday an eagle took a run at the little deer, and nearly got her.
Foxglove has been raising money for Coast Animal Welfare & Education Society (CAWES) for years and has a close relationship with the society. When the situation looked dire for the young doe, Fargher called CAWES. The local society referred them to the Critter Care Wildlife Society in Langley.
The only facility of its kind in southern B.C., the critter society provides short and long-term care and rehabilitation for native mammals. Their mandate is to return healthy animals to the wild and to promote public education.
The deer, dubbed Daisy, was admitted to the facility.
Fargher says that it looks like Daisy has a club foot, hence the limp, but it’s likely operable.
Because the society runs off of donations, Fargher is currently fundraising for Critter Care and to support the care of the fawn. Her cupcake sales from the weekly farmers market at BICS will go toward the deer and the society.
For questions about Critter Care Wildlife Society, please reach them at 604-530-2064.
