Wildlife officers free deer of plastic feeder stuck around neck in O'Hara

A whitetail deer, seen for weeks by Fox Chapel area residents sporting a large, white, plastic feeder around its neck, was freed Thursday morning, thanks to the persistent efforts of Pennsylvania Game Commission officials.

Commission officials spotted the deer early Thursday in the Orchard Hill/Driftwood area of O’Hara and were able to successfully tranquilize and free it from the feeder.

Courtesy of Melissa Marlo

This deer with a plastic feeder stuck on its head since at least April 25 finally had the contraption removed Thursday morning by Pennsylvania Game Commission officers in O’Hara.

“I couldn’t stand to see (the deer) suffering like that,” said state Rep. Mandy Steele after it was safely returned to the woods. “The officers have been so dedicated to making this happen. They sighted the deer several days in a row but finally got a clear shot (to tranquilize it) today.”

The bucket had been stuck on the deer’s neck since at least April 25, when Steele was first alerted by a resident about its predicament. She expressed thanks to wildlife officials for their diligence in patrolling the area each morning and evening.

She said she fielded numerous calls and emails from residents concerned about the deer’s fate.

Courtesy of Rep. Mandy Steele

A deer walks away from a plastic feeder Thursday morning in O’Hara that was stuck around its neck for more than a month. Wildlife officers spotted and tranquilized the deer then removed the feeder.

O’Hara resident Melissa Marlo had seen the deer repeatedly over the past month and had reported it to the Game Commission.

“I’m so happy that it went well. And I hope we still see him regularly, bucket free!” Marlo said.