Deer With Container On Its Head Saved By Rescuers: 'We Never Gave Up'

WADING RIVER, NY — A deer who has been trapped with a plastic container on its head for 10 days was saved Friday night by a dedicated animal rescue advocate and a caring community who rallied behind his efforts to save her.

Frankie Floridia of Strong Island Animal Rescue worked tirelessly for the entire 10 days to save the deer, who was first spotted on Sound Breeze Trail/ Great Rock Drive in Wading River.

Her rescue was definitely the result of a team determined to save her, he said.

"This was a tremendous group effort between Strong Island and the residents," Floridia said. Residents, he said, opened their yards to him for the search and set up group texts to let him know when and where the deer was spotted. "It was amazing," he said.

He also emphasized that the frightened deer's plight was absolutely avoidable. "This is human error," he said. "This is because someone didn't recycle properly." There is a proper way to recycle, he added, by crushing jars, and putting lids back on large containers such as the one that was wedged tightly on the deer's head. Also, he said, locking garbage cans is critical.

Floridia said he set up equipment including cellular trail cameras and thermal cameras; he went on multiple walks through the trails and stayed up until 4 a.m., hoping desperately for sightings of the deer on the cameras.

Despite rumors to the contrary, there was no hole in the bucket, so the deer survived for 10 long days with no food, no water, and minimal air, Floridia said. There were also rumors that the deer had not survived. "She's not dead," he said.

Floridia said ultimately, he got a call from a neighbor who saw her on their front yard. The plan was to contain her in a yard, so it would be easier to remove the container from her head. Neighbors Jeff Witt and Jeff Turano set up food in front of a sump, to entice the deer into the sump.

"She saw her pack eating and she still put her head down and tried to eat," Floridia said. "She didn't understand that there was something on her head."

(Courtesy Frankie Floridia)

Florida said the deer was corralled into the sump area; he was readying himself, putting on his boots and gear.

"They texted me back that they'd shut the gates and she was in," Floridia said. "I knew, at that point, that it was our playing field. Other times, she'd trot off and was gone. Now, it was us against that jar, we just had to get it. The prize was there; it was just a matter of how fast we could remove it in a way that was least stressful for her."

Once the 120 lb. deer was flanked, a "very powerful" 65,000 lumen light was turned on to blind her, Floridia said. "I tackled her," he said, getting both hands inside the jar, something that was very difficult, as the container was wedged on so tightly. Then, he used both his strength and the deer's, the two moving together to ease the container off.

When it was removed, Floridia said he and the residents were jubilant. "We jumped, we hugged," he said. "We bonded. I have the jar. It's like a trophy."

The deer was frightened, he said, and ran off, but video soon after showed her happily eating and at peace.

The reason they were able to reach the deer, he said, was because she had to climb up from the sump. "We had the high ground," he said.

The 10-day rescue effort came to an end on Friday night at 10:30 p.m., Floridia said. "We were ecstatic," he said. "I was emotional. Getting this done was a huge accomplishment. I don’t want to say it was stressful for us because what we felt was nothing compared to what she was going though. But it was a lot of pressure on us, because every day counted at this point."

Because the container had no hole for the deer to eat and drink, there was an added urgency, he said.

Floridia thanked all the residents, including Witt, Turano, and Nancy Prior, for their help. "This was a group effort, and teamwork," Floridia said. ""I made a bond with these people that will last forever."

Together, they searched trails and communicated constantly, all with a shared goal of bringing one helpless creature to safety.

"We never gave up," he said. "We never lost sight of her. We were long and strong in our efforts and group texts — and the plan paid off. Now she'll live happily ever after."