Stuck on the Gravel
A mother deer lay motionless on the gravel shoulder as a sharp-quilled porcupine latched tightly onto her neck.
Beside her, a small spotted fawn stood on slender legs, turning its head side to side in visible confusion.
Cars sped past on the adjacent asphalt highway, kicking up dust while the adult deer stayed pinned to the ground.
The heavy weight of the spiky intruder held her neck low against the roadside weeds.
Sharp quills dug into her brown fur with every small movement she tried to make.
Her dark eyes watched the passing traffic as the porcupine remained firmly pressed into her side.
The fawn stepped back onto the grass, shivering slightly under the bright blue sky.
A Quick Rescue Strategy
A passing driver pulled his white SUV onto the gravel shoulder and stepped out into the bright afternoon sunlight.
He walked around his vehicle holding a red fire extinguisher tucked under his arm.
He marched straight toward the group resting near the tree line without stopping.
The man aimed the broad nozzle directly at the prickly creature anchored to the deer’s shoulder.
He squeezed the handle, releasing a dense plume of cold white gas across the grass.
The blast of mist startled the porcupine, forcing it to release its hold and scuttle away into the thick brush.
The mother deer shifted her body slightly on the gravel as the heavy air cleared.
Removing the Barbed Quills
With the intruder gone, the man dropped down onto his knees in the loose gravel right beside the mother deer.
He opened a small black zippered case on the ground and pulled on a pair of tight white rubber gloves.
The little fawn stepped closer, nuzzling its mother’s chin while watching the man work.
He reached into the case and pulled out a pair of silver precision pliers.
He placed the metal tips around the base of a quill embedded deep in the doe’s neck skin.
He pulled straight back, drawing out the sharp point and placing it onto a clean white towel.
He repeated the process again and again, carefully removing every single quill from her fur.
The doe tilted her head back slightly, letting him reach the underside of her throat.
Treating the Wounds
Once all the spiky quills were pulled free, he took a wide roll of clean medical tape and gauze.
He wrapped the soft white material neatly around her neck to protect the open puncture marks.
The doe remained perfectly still during the process, resting her head comfortably against the man’s leg.
He stripped off his rubber gloves and tossed them into his open kit on the ground.
Reaching into a small bag, he scooped up a handful of sweet feed grains and dried pellets.
He extended his open palm toward the mother deer, holding his arm steady above the dirt.
The doe stretched her nose forward and began nibbling the food directly from his hand while the fawn watched from inches away.
The man smiled as the mother deer finished the last bits of food from his open palm.
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