Tragic Death of Ohio Animal Rescuer Sparks Controversy

An animal enthusiast from Ohio, who dedicated years to rescuing injured deer, was fatally attacked by one of the animals she cared for. This incident has led to a contentious debate over which deer had blood on its antlers.

Jody Ploger spent over a decade tending to whitetails on her five-acre property in Stewartsville, located south of Akron.

On November 15, she was in an enclosure with a buck when the unfortunate attack occurred, resulting in her death. Local authorities had to shoot the aggressive deer in order to reach Ploger, who was pronounced dead at the scene due to the severity of her injuries.

Ploger, 64, began rescuing deer back in 2013 after witnessing a doe get hit by a car. She found a newborn fawn that was lingering near its mother’s body on the roadside.

She recounted, “I didn’t mean to do it, but I did it,” referring to how she turned her car around to save the fawn.

She named him Weezer and fought to keep him when there were threats from authorities to have him trapped and euthanized. Fortunately, she managed to retain custody of him, expanding her efforts to save more deer afterward.

In a past television interview, Ploger described Weezer fondly, saying, “He’s like a big dog.”

Her Facebook page highlights their close bond, showcasing moments where Weezer is seen lounging at home, even dressed up for special occasions like Christmas and Valentine’s Day. There are photos of them sharing food, and he now boasts impressive antlers.

Since taking Weezer in, Ploger had also brought home several other deer. There’s an endearing photo of a wild deer interacting with her granddaughter, marking the bond that was established within the family.

Amid the chaos following the incident, Ploger’s daughter, Jennifer Bryan, took to social media to clarify that Weezer wasn’t responsible for her mother’s death. She stated, “Weezer didn’t kill my mother,” and emphasized that he had been neutered and was compliant with regulations.

Reports indicate that male white-tailed deer can reach heights of over three feet at the shoulder and weigh around 300 pounds.

Bryan expressed confidence in her mother’s abilities to care for wildlife, insisting that she understood the risks involved with handling such animals. “She knew the dangers of owning deer,” Bryan noted. This heart-wrenching event has left the family seeking privacy and time to grieve, amidst the ongoing investigations by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

Interestingly, deer are often regarded as the most dangerous animals in the U.S. due to vehicle collisions, which account for a significant number of wildlife-related fatalities every year.