It’s right not to ‘rescue’

While out on our permitted daily exercise, my son and I came across an ailing muntjac kid that was being mobbed by two carrion crows. There was no sign of the mother and the kid was reluctant or not able to stand. I decided to leave the animal where it was after I chased away the crows. Do you think this was the correct thing to do, or should I have picked the kid up and got help for it?

There are two aspects to the situation that you describe, and different people will have different responses to them.

First, it is important to realise that young animals of all species are subject to high degrees of predation and mortality — nature red in tooth and claw and all that. Young deer of all species suffer high mortality rates during the first year of life. All members of the crow family are successful opportunists, actively seeking out the weak and the vulnerable.

In this age of anthropomorphising wild animals, many people might wish to protect a vulnerable creature being attacked. You did the correct thing by not directly intervening — though I can understand why you chased the attackers. Had you picked up the kid, which may have had other problems, you would probably have caused it to be later rejected by its mother because your scent would have tainted it.

Which brings us to the second aspect of your question, which is about ‘rescuing’ a dependent young animal of an introduced invasive species, and the responsibilities and legalities that come with that should the animal survive. I believe you followed the best course of action. IW

Young muntjac deer suffer high mortality rates