Last Sunday Jamison was mountain biking through Lester Park when he heard bleating sounds coming from a distance. He stopped to look around and, on the opposite side of the river, saw a doe looking down from the top of the cliff, and obviously worried. He looked a little closer and found out why she was making such a ruckus. Her fawn had fallen about 18 feet down and was curled up precariously on a small, rocky ledge. Fearing the fawn was injured, and knowing he couldn’t get the fawn out of the gorge without help, he called Wildwoods using a passerby’s phone.

Wildwoods contacted Elda and Rex, rock-solid volunteers, who happened to be available at the time. They met Jamison at the park and he led them to where the fawn was. The hike was nearly a mile, but Jamison knew right where to go. They saw the fawn and worked out a plan to get it, and them, safely out of the gorge. Jamison went down first while Elda and Rex distracted the fawn so it wouldn’t run away and fall into the river. Once Jamison had the fawn, Elda and Rex took positions on the cliff and the three of them relayed the fawn upward. It took three sets of relays, but they soon were safely at the top.

Elda quickly examined the fawn for injuries, but there were just minor scrapes on its legs. No need to admit the little one to Wildwoods! As soon as Jamison gently set it down on the ground, it ran full speed in the direction of its mother, and away from danger. Jamison, Elda and Rex watched with joy as their part of this fawn’s story came to a happy end.

It may sound strange, but we at Wildwoods are so overjoyed when an animal DOESN’T need to come to us for help, especially baby animals. They will always do better with their mothers and any time we can ensure that happens, it’s a great day. Special thanks to Jamison for sticking around to help the fawn, and to the couple who let him borrow their phone. Without their fast action, dedication, and compassion the fawn would certainly have had a different end.