Yesterday I had a very strange encounter with a Blacktail Buck.
While driving along Fraser Hwy, Abby to Langley, several vehicles were parked on both sides of the Hwy with hazard lights on, I could see a few people crouched on the shoulder with something covered up with a blanket and high viz coat. I thought a person had been struck by a vehicle and pulled over to help.
Well it wasn't a person, it was a BT buck, it had been struck by a vehicle clearly evident was its antlers had been shortened to a small spike on both sides. They were snapped off. Asking if every one was ok, one individual was clearly shaken and petting the deers face. It's mouth wide open and blinking I asked if a CO was called, Police too ? All yes and enroute. A woman asked if I could transport said buck to a animal shelter in my truck ....... Well not like that, he would need to be hog tied and bound if transported by any one.
Having been involved in a number of these incidents over the years in my line of work, I advised these folks that the critter would mist likely have to be put down to stop its suffering.
it had been down for ten to fifteen minutes when local Police showed up. I was having conversation with the constable, when suddenly the buck jumps up, jumps the ditch, right into thick blackberries and slams into chain link fence, for some reason the fence was installed off the ground, the buck dove under the fence and took off for greener pastures. Weird! He'd been knocked silly and was obvious shock till he came too.
Hopefully this guy survives, and doesn't have internal injuries that may claim his life, but where he's living, and the rut on........ Who knows. Strange, never seen one get up and go like that after getting wacked at highway speed. Wow.