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Photo-a-Day Archive
Photo-a-Day Archive

Photo-a-Day  (Wednesday, 29th May, 2024)

Deer Rescue on the Bridgewater Canal


Deer Rescue on the Bridgewater Canal
A little out of the Wigan (Borough) area - but a Wigan boat and its crew helped effect the rescue…. We were about to set off from alongside RHS Bridgewater when my wife spotted a deer trying to climb out of the canal. We immediately cast off to see if we could help it out. A passing walker was soon joining in - as I tried to keep the deer close to the bank with our boat, he tried to grab it, but it was too scared to cooperate. Then a cyclist got involved. I threw a mooring rope to the walker, again used the boat to pen the deer in, and he succeeded in lassoing it - and he and the cyclist managed to haul the deer ashore. As we resumed our cruise, the cyclist tried to calm the animal down. He passed us later, giving a thumbs up to show he’d managed to get the deer to run off away from the canal.

Photo: David Long  (.)
Views: 1,582

Comment by: Wigan Mick on 29th May 2024 at 03:37

Well done Rev.

Comment by: Poet on 29th May 2024 at 05:29

A heart warming tale Reverend which has made my day and a nice triptych too .

Comment by: Helen of Troy on 29th May 2024 at 07:11

It is so heartwarming when you hear of rescues like this & passers by helping creatures in trouble.. it puts back some faith in human kind that you thought was gone. Well done to everyone.

Comment by: Veronica on 29th May 2024 at 07:46

Bravo to those people coming together whenever it looks like disaster is about to occur. The Deer must have been exhausted trying to get out.

Comment by: Maureen on 29th May 2024 at 08:18

What a lovely outcome to what otherwise could have been a very sad ending for the little one, and what a photograph to get while out for the day..God love you all who took part in saving this little deer.

Comment by: T. D. on 29th May 2024 at 09:20

Great photos David and a good result on the day. Dread to think what it's like being trapped in the canal water with no escape. What a relief to be rescued. I believe boat men could recover horses from the water by walking them along the shallow bank towards ramps, or steps back up to the tow path. Would be good to know if any still exist on the Leeds & Liverpool canal ?

Comment by: Colin Traynor on 29th May 2024 at 09:23

Quite incredible pictures Rev Long, upsetting to see any animal in distress. There appears to have been a happy ending.

Comment by: Davy Attenborough on 29th May 2024 at 09:35

The deer might have just been having a relaxing swim, and would have been frightened to death being trapped in by a boat then having a lassoe around its neck.
Like Bill Oddie always used to say, don't interfer with wildlife.

Comment by: Santa on 29th May 2024 at 09:37

Oh Dear. He's got out again

Comment by: Roy on 29th May 2024 at 10:17

Well done to all those involved David.

Comment by: Wigan Mick on 29th May 2024 at 11:16

Come to think about it, I must have seen and videoed 5 or 6 deer swimming in the canal and they have all managed to climb out without any help.
So I have to agree with the person pretending to be David Attenbough

Comment by: John(Westhoughton) on 29th May 2024 at 11:20

Extremely well done David and co. that would give you the feel good factor for ever.

Comment by: WN6 on 29th May 2024 at 13:58

Doesn't take much, I see the Numpties are back criticizing!
Who would sit and video 5 or 6 deer struggling in the water, you are sick, get a life.

Comment by: Cyril on 29th May 2024 at 14:21

Excellent photos David, I'm sure the deer would have been grateful for being hauled out, otherwise it may well have ended up drowned.

see the Silly One is back posting under faux names, folks will be treating your advice, along with the likes of David Attenborough and Bill Oddie, with the contempt they deserve.

Comment by: Maureen on 29th May 2024 at 17:31

I totally agree with you Cyril,they're like soft kids who never put their comment on first..oh no they just hide in the shadow like cowards and then pounce...very sad individuals...honestly they could spoil a miracle.

Comment by: DerekB on 29th May 2024 at 18:43

Regardless of whether or not the deer was in danger and needed assistance, how heartening to see three strangers coming together to help an animal believed to be in distress.

Comment by: Wigan Mick on 29th May 2024 at 18:48

WN6 it wasn't all at once and I wasn't sitting I had to keep following them because they were swimming away from me.

Comment by: Veronica on 29th May 2024 at 19:49

Correct Cyril - as Maureen says they can only post after others have posted. It must give them ‘food for thought’ to come up with the boring anecdotes and mixed name changes. It’s been going on quite a while. No doubt it will carry on more now…
‘ Bone Head’ might be a good ‘un. Yawn…zzzzz

Comment by: . Ozy . on 29th May 2024 at 22:35

I’m reminded of an occasion several years ago when I witnessed a cygnet in distress on the L&L between Shedfield bridge and Bridge 60 .

This young swan was swimming , quite unnaturally it appeared , towards me and had flecks of blood on its plumage , which I rightly or wrongly assumed to have been caused by accidentally ingesting a discarded fishing hook .

A couple on the towpath were also witness to the cygnet’s distress and said they’d report the incident to one of the rangers up at the hall .

In due course , one of the rangers arrived at bridge 60 in a 4x4 , a bloke named Bernard with a beard . It’s quite possible that some of you peasants may even remember the fella .

But anyways .

Between us , we managed to retrieve the poor little bugger , then with the cygnet ensconced in Bernard’s jacket he proceeded to take the poor thing to a veterinarian … ( whose identity I will not reveal , but whose premises are situated just off Wigan lane ) …

I spoke to Bernard up at the hall a couple of weeks later and made enquiries regarding the outcome .

Bernard replied that the unidentified vet had refused to even consider going outside to look at the bird and he , ( Bernard ) ended up having to take the creature to some undisclosed site in Burscough .

I think it may well have been at this point in my life that my former positive opinion of vets changed considerably .

Think on ! … All your money won’t a another minute buy .
… quote taken from the song …
Dust in the Wind …

You’ll no doubt be familiar with the song , but it’s on YouTube if you just happen to find yourself among the 1% that aren’t .

Comment by: John Fazakerley on 30th May 2024 at 16:34

First post on this photo was put on at 03.37 so it appears some of the trouble making who dont contribute sod all tp PADS are wrong again.

Comment by: Cyril on 31st May 2024 at 17:49

I do vaguely remember Bernard Ozy, and I'm glad that both he and the swan were treated a lot better at Burscough. The vet off Wigan Lane was an excellent veterinarian, but I'd heard he could be terse at times.
The zoo did use him as the vet for their animals, but I remember that they did change to one at Standish, maybe there had been one terse moment too many. The vet that is there now I'm told is a very nice man.

It is now law that they have to treat a wild animal brought to them. https://www.theveterinarynurse.com/content/education/legalities-of-treating-wildlife-in-uk-veterinary-practice/#:~:text=It%20also%20follows%20that%20any,appropriate%20treatment%20to%20relieve%20suffering.

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