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Bucky
I looked at his face and said aloud, “What happened to you.?” His jaw looks misaligned and his tongue was hanging out and I thought maybe somebody shot him in the face.
I called the SPCA and they gave me the number of a white-tailed deer rehabilitator who lives not far from me. Lorraine asked me to get pictures so she could see. She spends the fall and winter going to downed deer calls and is able to dart them to assess and be euthanized if necessary. It is almost impossible to rehab adult deer because as prey animals, they suffer from capture stress and it will kill them. Capture myopathy. In the spring and summer, she rescues orphaned fawns and raised them for release as a small herd.
Lorraine says that he has piebald genes in him which cause this jaw defect. Bucky is not in pain, not suffering and looks great.I send regular photos to her to assess his condition. If he is in pain or suffering Lorraine would take steps, Bucky is living a good deer life.
Capture Myopathy Explained—Chronic capture myopathy breaks the heart of many, many rehabbers. We sometimes let ourselves be fooled into thinking we have pulled an animal through some pretty rough times and the worst is over. We think maybe this individual isn’t too susceptible to capture myopathy. We sometimes forget to be guarded and start thinking about releases. Then the animal suddenly dies, almost unexpectedly.I sent the photos and she said it appears that he now named Bucky has a genetic defect that can result in piebald deer like this.
Below is a piebald deer showing one of the expressions of the defect which is the abnormal coloring.
Piebald Deer Doe
In addition to its rare coat, a piebald deer will likely have other issues, including:
- bowing of the nose (Roman nose)
- overbite
- short legs
- arching spine (scoliosis)
- short lower mandible
- internal organ deformities.
In Bucky’s case, he has parrot mouth where his lower jaw is much shorter than a normal deer making eating more difficult for him.
Underside of parrot jaw
Lorraine felt that he looked good and was about 3 years old. He probably has been surviving the winter by eating out of my bird feeders.
Bucky
I asked her if there was anything I could do to help him so she gave me the correct grains that he should have along with mixed birdseed and shelled nut. I put a bowl in the corner where he can’t be seen.
Bucky in summer
Above is Bucky growing in his antlers which are covered in velvet while they grow. He will grow new antlers every year.
Bucky in fall using the bird bath
Above in fall. We keep a birdbath full for him and as well as 3 other heated bird baths for the birds.
Bucky in summer
Above in his summer coat which is lighter than the coat he has for winter.
Deer see well and their hearing is even better. Bucky recognizes my husband and me but we can’t get closer than about 10 feet and we don’t want to. He is a wild animal and we don’t want to stress him but we will help him out as he is physically challenged.
It is kind of fitting given that my husband and I are both retired special education teachers.
If you have Instagram you can follow Lorraine and her deer – @fuzzyfawnwildlife
Have a wonderful nature-filled week! Please be safe.
ramblingwoods.com 
I wish you well helping him Michelle. I hope the poor creature isn’t suffering too much. Some times nature has to take its course but I know you’ll do the best you can to help him in his life. I enjoy your research and photos, especially the one him centre stage and ducks floating aboot along the shore.
They complete the story. All the best to you ! cheryl
Cheryl. Bucky is healthy and living a happy deer life. Lorraine would never let a deer suffer. Anytime we see an injured or sick animal we take steps to get it to rehabbers knowing that euthanasia is a possibility. Sadly many injuries to wildlife have to do with human activity and are not natural so we help when we see it here.
Michelle, it is wonderful that you and your husband have taken Bucky under your wing, so to speak. When we first moved here, we used to see a Piebald, which prompted me to look up discovering their distinguishing physical differences….jp
I love the one in the snow – not so much the one on the wall!
I took that photo down as it bothered me too. I can’t imagine shooting these gentle animals…
This is so very interesting. I’ve never heard of that piebald condition. It’s sad that helping wildlife after capturing them might not help them at all. It’s good to know. Sometimes Nature has its own way of doing things, I guess.
I’ve never seen a piebald deer! It looks like Bucky is doing well enough to live three years even with his defect. Can he pass on this defect to his offspring?
Yes in theory-Piebaldism is a recessive trait; it is believed that both parents must carry the recessive gene for there to be a chance that they will produce piebald fawns.
Such an interesting post. Thank you for taking good care of Bucky – from a distance.
Interesting post here! I can’t understand that people shoot these beautiful animals.
It seems as if that deer knew right where to go.
I’m heartened to hear that some truly marvellous human beings still exist out there and they do good and care about the natural world and the innocent creatures that manage to coexist with some pretty nasty creatures that have the temerity to call themselves “human”.