Photo by Vince Fedoroff
UNUSUAL DOWNTOWN SIGHT – Ravens surround the carcass of the deer on the ice of the Yukon River in Whitehorse this morning. Passersby first reported seeing the deer Tuesday afternoon.
‘I’m really just shocked, appalled and very sad’
Some Whitehorse residents are upset that a deer was left on the Yukon River ice to die.
Some Whitehorse residents are upset that a deer was left on the Yukon River ice to die.
Witnesses report the mature female deer was chased by a dog onto the ice in front of the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre on Tuesday afternoon.
Whitehorse resident Keighlan Gustus-Lukey arrived at the shoreline at around 7:45 p.m. Tuesday and stayed for two hours.
“I’m really just shocked and appalled and very sad,” she told the Star this morning.
“All in all, it just really kind of broke my heart that they didn’t do anything.”
Kirby Meister, the Yukon government’s acting director of conservation officer services, said that despite some media reports that the deer was trapped in the ice, it was just laying down.
“The deer was more or less in the middle of the river,” he told the Star early this afternoon, noting concerns for officer safety.
“Where it was, was on very solid ice but there was thin ice around it and open water near it.”
Because the deer was alert and appeared uninjured, Meister said, conservation authorities decided it was best to permit the deer to recover on its own.
“When we intervene, it’s usually not good for the animal,” he explained.
“It ends up in a captive situation or deceased.”
Officers watched the deer until nightfall and decided to check on it again this morning.
“During the night, the deer had moved a little bit. Unfortunately, it had succumbed to something,” said Meister.
But many residents have taken to social media to express their frustration that nothing was done to rescue or euthanize the animal Tuesday.
“I’ve never felt more defeated by a society founded on the preservation of animal life. This is not five hours out of town where resources are limited; this is in our downtown core on a high use trail,” Gustus-Lukey wrote on Facebook.
“I feel bad for parents tomorrow who will need to explain why a bloody carcass of Bambi is laying on the river, just left there for scavengers.”
Although thin ice was a concern, officers do have access to specialized equipment that could make a rescue possible.
Meister said this is something they were considering if the deer was still there this morning.
Meister said it’s positive that so many people are concerned about wildlife in the Yukon.
“We had a lot of calls from concerned citizens, which is good; we appreciate that,” he said.
He also cautioned the public to control their dogs, especially during the winter which is a hard time for wildlife.
“If an animal is getting down on nutrition or getting stressed from lack of nutrition on winter feed so something like being chased by a dog really compounds the effect on its health,” he said.
Conservation authorities have recovered the doe’s carcass and will be performing a necropsy to determine the cause of death.
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Comments (49)
Up 20 Down 1
Visitor on Feb 13, 2017 at 8:25 pm
Just visiting Whitehorse this week and noticed a lot of unruly dogs off leash on the walking trail and owners also not being responsible for picking up their mess!!! Whose dog did that, certainly not mine as the fresh pile lays there and they walk by with the blind eye and comment rudely to you - Not my little one either as I have a handful of bags provided by the city located in dispensers at the park, FREE!! Whitehorse you need bylaw officers with big fines on this trail. It's getting out of control!! And this is winter -
Up 21 Down 8
Donovan McGlaughlin on Feb 12, 2017 at 8:06 am
My how the Yukon has changed. In our founding days this animal would not have been left to waste as it has been. I am all for letting nature take it's course but to waste an animal that could have feed a struggling family is insane. Not to long ago we would not have thought twice about harvesting an injured animal and donating the meat to the food bank.
But we have become a society that lives in fear of "what if's" and "think about the children" that we no longer see rationally. The lawyers have won. We have made it illegal to use common sense.
Up 37 Down 6
Fed up Yukoner on Feb 11, 2017 at 8:42 am
I wonder if folks think about the game that is harassed by the dogs running loose in the subdivisions out of town, lots of dogs posted as lost are chasing animals and some of them get killed themselves and eaten. This scenario goes on all the time but out of sight out of mind. The conservation officers are right, it's nature. The real outrage should be dogs who run loose and cause these problems but this is the Yukon and folks care more about dogs than they do people.
Up 35 Down 11
Amanda Leslie on Feb 10, 2017 at 2:04 pm
This article and situation received a lot of attention and care, from all perspectives.
Can we also work together as a community with this level of compassion and attentiveness towards our Yukon children in care?
Up 11 Down 6
Jimmybnr on Feb 10, 2017 at 1:10 pm
Good joke going around town: "Sure it's great to have a good cold snap again, scares off the deer and Tarana types!"
Up 27 Down 29
Stu Winter on Feb 10, 2017 at 12:23 pm
I think the antis are to blame not the foxes and other predators or the COs who were being careful and hoping the deer would wonder off after resting.
If the city had allowed ATVs and skidoos on this trail they would be going by more regularly than our empty city buses.
A few ATVs would stop within a few minutes and their operators would develop a plan. They carry ropes and come-a-longs and the odd gun and some of these people would instantly know what to do with that poor deer. The might choose to lasso that helpless deer and drag it across the ice to safety or shoot it and bravely face the legal system if the COs disagreed with their actions. Do you remember the wolves which were shot in Sima to protect women and children.
If an elderly person fell on the trail these nice ATVers would offer him/her a lift to the hospital or home. The anti and latte crowd in town have ruined many things and they are impeding deer and trail rescues. I
Why we listen to the anti everything crowd who want quiet trails for walking I will never know.
Up 55 Down 6
Remember When on Feb 10, 2017 at 8:16 am
No one is ever happy in these situations. Save the deer, a CO dies; Leave the deer, it should have been shot; Shoot the deer, the world is up in arms, it could have been saved. After the fiasco that was the fox on the runway, I sure wouldn't want to put down an animal in the public eye if I was a CO. Accept that someone with a bit more knowledge than most of us made a decision that they felt was right given the circumstances and move on. Keyboard warriors unite! On another soapbox.
Up 36 Down 5
Life on Feb 10, 2017 at 4:10 am
This happens about every hour in the Yukon, that an animal is killed by another or the environment. I guarantee 100s of animals die on the river at thaw up, we can build a fence along every water way in the Yukon if you want! People don't know anything nowadays it's just sad. Before you see a dead animal you carry on but now we got all these people who want to screw up the food chain and save everything and let the world be.
Up 10 Down 51
Just Say'in on Feb 10, 2017 at 12:40 am
It seems to me you don't call a conservation officer if you want an animal saved. Their name doesn't match their job description much.
Up 41 Down 6
NR on Feb 9, 2017 at 9:40 pm
What I find interesting about this is that of all the people complaining that no action was made to save the deer, no one went out and tried to do something... yes, it's sad that it died, but the CO's are trained to deal with these types of situations and made the right call to let nature run it's course. My question is, would the people complaining have gone out on the unpredictable ice in the late afternoon to save it? And if yes, why didn't they?
Up 41 Down 7
Stan Walker on Feb 9, 2017 at 5:42 pm
There are many aspects to ponder with this incident.
If a rescue was attempted it would be somewhat dangerous and the deer may have jumped in the water and drowned. It could have gone well or badly.
If the deer had been healthier it may have walked away avoiding the predators and the COs would have looked good with respect to their decision.
I do not think its appropriate to assign blame other than the dog which was not on a lease.
The CO's are very professional and they may be blaming themselves for not acting in another way.
End of story and time to move on.
Up 22 Down 61
another thought on Feb 9, 2017 at 4:33 pm
Humans are capable of preventing suffering and should do so whenever possible. That is OUR part in the system of life.
At the very least, even if the CO's were too scared of the ice, or did not want to bother deploying their equipment, they could have shot the deer.
This incident is very disturbing not only because of the intense suffering that this animal needlessly went through, but because the people we pay to hopefully prevent this kind of suffering on occasion could not be bothered to do anything about it until the next morning when they sauntered out and collected the now-dead body which was in fact being enjoyed by the local wildlife.
Why not just leave the carcass there at that point?! You did nothing to stop the suffering, and then you take away the meat from other animals! How in the world do either of those actions/inactions serve wildlife? Honestly I wonder if they deserve their badges.
I suspect they removed the body because they didn't want publicity about their lack of action the day before. Now they are making up stories that they thought the deer was doing just fine as it laid on the ice injured and being eaten by a fox and some ravens, and that it would just get up and walk away after it enjoyed the city lights for a while. They were told it was injured! They told people they were going to let it lie there and die!
One thing I have learned: the CO's are not in fact concerned about the well being of wildlife. At least that is not their primary motivation.
Up 17 Down 40
local on Feb 9, 2017 at 4:23 pm
It would have been very easy for them to put the deer down. When humans come across suffering and can easily end it, they should. Whether 'nature' is cruel or not, we have other capacities and should use them.
My partner came across a caribou once who had a mangled back end and was dragging itself around. (had been hit by a truck) Did he say, 'It's the Law of Nature that animals suffer! And I am a big tough Yukoner!', and move on? No. He took out his axe and ended the suffering with one hit to the animal's head with the blunt side of the axe. Then he moved on.
That is the least we could have expected from our well paid team of CO's who had a chance to gear themselves up from a wide array of tools and gear, and who had each other for support and safety. I am disgusted by their lack of action, and their lack of empathy.
Up 58 Down 5
Common Sense on Feb 9, 2017 at 3:27 pm
Would you seriously send your family member out on unsafe ice to save a deer? Common sense, obviously not. Had this been further down the river out of sight it would have been no big deal. It's sad but it's the circle of life. Yes!!! I do believe the dog owner should be charged, why was he off his leash? Questions, questions.
Up 87 Down 9
I also love Bambi... on Feb 9, 2017 at 12:39 pm
...but the conservation officers made the right call.
I walked a past the crowd staring mournfully at the deer waiting for 'Someone' to save the day like it was a reality TV show. When an officers set off a noise device some sensitive soul complained about lack of warning.
There was no way to get a good shot at the deer, and just imagine the hue and cry if they had shot it.
None of the people got their handy Skidoos and winches out, and thank heavens for that - as the RCMP are currently dragging the river already for another person who went through the ice.
How stupid would it be for officers to climb across unstable ice in the diminishing light to attempt to wrangle an animal that was already in shock? Or take a bunch of shots toward the opposite side of the river, blowing the deer apart piece by piece? How is that humane?
Creatures are born, live and then die, including every poster here. Sorry if reality 'triggers your feelings' folks.
Go have another soy latte.
Up 66 Down 10
Bush Harvester on Feb 9, 2017 at 8:26 am
Your children need to learn reality as to how predators get their food.This was a great teaching moment about nature and how real and cruel it can be. Not to try to cover up reality to protect your Walt Disney mentality. The predator gets a good meal, not all negative. All living creatures are a meal for some thing else in the wild. Your children need to see and learn this, so they don't end up weak minded whiners like some who posted here.
Up 66 Down 9
Bush Harvester on Feb 9, 2017 at 8:04 am
Hard to believe there are people who get upset over something that happens every winter naturally. Many animals, including dear and moose, die a stressful painful and in many cases violent death. THIS is how animals die in the wild. They do not live peaceful lives as some want us to believe. I have witnessed animals being eaten by wolves and ravens while still alive. Welcome to reality. It's not Walt Disney folks. Children need to see how nature truly works. There was nothing that could be done for this deer. Leaving well enough alone was the right thing to do. This deer was not going to survive regardless. It doesn't matter if a dog chased it out there on the ice, It was dying any way. Normally it would have been wolves after it and they would have ripped and torn it to pieces feeding on it while it was still alive. It died with less stress than it normally would have further away from town. The meat was probably not safe to eat either as one suggested as this deer was sick. A hunter's bullet is way more humane than the way most animals die in the wild. Grow up people and teach your children reality not fantasy.
Up 18 Down 38
lloyd on Feb 9, 2017 at 5:44 am
If someone had gone out and shot this deer to feed his family, the Fish and Wildlife people would arrest him in a heartbeat. These Government Employees have no sense of urgency, this deer would have come second on things to do list .
Up 60 Down 10
Canna Yukon on Feb 9, 2017 at 12:45 am
I'm surprised by all the negative comments on here.. This is mother nature taking its course live in front of you.. You want to come to the Yukon and live it's life.. outside of Whitehorse this is an everyday occurence in the vast lands of the Yukon. What right do we have to interfere with that? We do have wildlife living in and around the downtown core no matter what we do.. This deer dying (from some misfortunate events) is great for the food chain it provides for them during the hardest parts of the year. What would've been the alternative? To take this natural wild animal from its home, lock it up in an cage for the rest of it's life? I don't think that's entirely fair. I say the conservation officers made a good call on this one.
Up 11 Down 36
E B K on Feb 9, 2017 at 12:06 am
It's not about the animal....it's about following the book. From what I know and understand is that there is not a place for these animals. I know of a similar situation happening right now with 2 baby foxes that have been left to survive on their own; the mother died when they were just pups and the conservation officers will not do anything about it. I realize this is how nature takes its course but when it's happening right in front of you it's kind of hard not wanting to help. I'm sure if people really knew what was going on they would want to help support it.
Up 20 Down 45
Dog owners suck and so does the response of Environment on Feb 8, 2017 at 10:48 pm
The dog owner is a an irresponsible, entitled, typical Yukon dog owner. The dogs in my neighbourhood run around, bark, chase people, poop everywhere and it just goes on and on, regardless of complaints to Bylaw. As for the deer, it should have been helped. I agree with posters that leaving it there, obviously injured and unable to relocate, was cruel and unnecessary. We get so bent out of shape in the Yukon about dogs and people abusing dogs or the like (think Trevor the dog) but yet when a wild animal is in distress Environment turns the other cheek. I'd be briefing the director of Environment when he's back in town. Disappointed with this callous and unnecessary response--no surprise coming from Environment though.
Up 46 Down 6
randall on Feb 8, 2017 at 9:59 pm
Those ravens had their lives preserved a little
Up 47 Down 5
Me on Feb 8, 2017 at 9:31 pm
This would be the circle of life and the food chain. Sad but reality
Up 41 Down 10
Dallas on Feb 8, 2017 at 9:28 pm
It is illegal to let your dogs harass wildlife and or livestock, I have shot dogs for harassing livestock and would do the same if I seen someone's dog harassing wildlife. The cold hard facts of life.
Up 4 Down 18
Politico on Feb 8, 2017 at 9:23 pm
Since the Conservation Officers couldn't help too bad the bystanders couldn't be like these Swedes
http://www.zonemoon.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/3942a1f3bc.gif
Up 48 Down 7
Kathleen on Feb 8, 2017 at 9:17 pm
Circle of life...ravens gotta eat too.
Up 15 Down 49
saddened on Feb 8, 2017 at 9:13 pm
I agree with the majority- this was a very inhumane way for an innocent creature to suffer a fate that could have easily been prevented. I find there are a lot of lazy redneck attitudes in the Yukon and I am embarrassed to be in a city that would leave an animal suffer. And the comments above are discouraging and ridiculous!!! It wasn't left for nature and they wasted no time retrieving it after its cruel death.
Up 16 Down 29
LL on Feb 8, 2017 at 9:08 pm
It was interesting that the conservation officers managed to get the deer off the ice this morning no problem. Why could they not do this yesterday afternoon when it was first discovered. And some inaccuracies with what Kirby Meistersinger said - they did know it's leg or legs may have been injured and had told someone that called that they would let it die and let nature take its course.
Up 16 Down 43
Chelsea on Feb 8, 2017 at 9:02 pm
I was at the Kwanlin Dunn centre with approximately 100 other first nation people. We witnessed the deer stand up, and slip and fall. I called 911, and was transferred to a call centre outside of Vancouver. First nation elders were calling people they knew that may be able to assist, describing the suffering we were witnessing. I saw the conservation officers arrive on site. they didn't even have binoculars. Other people watching we're throwing snowballs at the ravens to keep them at bay. If the conservation officers had means to rescue, they should have done that. Waiting overnight when the temperatures are in the -30s is not a good plan of action, in my humble opinion.
Up 58 Down 9
Wild is part of wilderness on Feb 8, 2017 at 8:53 pm
You live in the Yukon, one of the last true wildernesses. Right now there are wolves harassing a moose and her calf, coyotes killing rabbits and on and on. That's how it goes here, as it has for thousands of years. You live in a city plopped in a wilderness, you're bound to see it's true nature. No sense trying to meddle more in it than we do already. Only travesty is some douche is letting their spoiled house pet with no discipline exhaust a wild animal without consequence. Otherwise, Meister has it right. Not pleasant to watch but the way it goes. Go back to a real city if you don't want to see wild things.
Up 56 Down 5
Elodie Dulac on Feb 8, 2017 at 8:45 pm
I was there from the start until the CO's arrived, which was Just after 4. I yelled at the dog until it left the deer alone, then threw snowballs at the ravens, and that worked. I then played a buck call on my iPhone, and it was interested and started to move. But the poor thing fell again on the slippery ice. The COs arrived as I left. It sounds as though this turned out for the worse, and that breaks my heart.
I do want to say the dog was horrible, it was obvious that it lived across the river from the cultural centre. It was black med size with a red collar. It was aggressive and needs to be dealt with. That's the only resolve that we'll get from this story.
Up 20 Down 14
Steve on Feb 8, 2017 at 8:13 pm
Sounds like the City of Whitehorse and it bylaw services are going to exit "stage right" and get away with something again. YTG and the RCMP are not the ones who are to blame here.
Up 12 Down 41
Rose on Feb 8, 2017 at 7:31 pm
I was truly appalled when I witnessed this scene from the window of the public library there were no conservation officers on sight. There were lots of people looking on from the library windows and Long Lake. I asked myself why was this animal being left to suffer? How sad.
Up 14 Down 39
Notsowildernesscity on Feb 8, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Why would you let a live deer sit there and die for 10 hours? I went out last night to see what could be done, but was told not to intervene. Like at least put the thing out of it's misery. I watched it struggle as it was being eaten alive by a fox. Good on Keighlan for trying to do something good, her heart is in the right place for sure and to those people telling her that what she did, putting light on the story of how authorities told people not to help an animal that could have been helped, you people are the worst.
Up 35 Down 6
Tutshi on Feb 8, 2017 at 6:59 pm
It's sad & unfortunately the cycle of life, I just wished people would show this much love & compassion & respect for our homeless & refugees.
Up 51 Down 8
Johnny Ringo on Feb 8, 2017 at 6:15 pm
This is the cycle of life before your eyes peeps. Just because you have never seen it doesn't mean it's not happening. Animal fact 101 they eat each other, that's how they survive. I guess some big city folk that can't stand to bare the sight of it, imagine that living in the Yukon. Get your Birkenstocks off and get on some mukluks and get out and see what the cycle of life is all about.
Up 53 Down 3
BnR on Feb 8, 2017 at 6:14 pm
Never mind that the Millenium Trail is an on leash area, it is an offence under the wildlife act for pets to harass or injure wildlife. The COs made an appropriate response. Find the dog owner and prosecute.
And dog owners, pick up your dogs s**t on the Millenium trail!!
Up 43 Down 5
Johnny Ringo on Feb 8, 2017 at 6:13 pm
As far as I can see this is what the cycle of life is, those that are disgusted really need to get out. We are continually surrounded by nature, animals eat each other that's what they do, so what if it happened near Whitehorse. I guess just big city folk who know absolutely nothing about their animals.
Up 13 Down 45
Charles on Feb 8, 2017 at 6:11 pm
Dog or no Dog does not matter. But a wild Animal in Distress right in the City Limits should be taken care of. Charge the dog owner with all you want later.
We have Conservation Officers to do just that. Help and conserve our Wildlife.T hey did have the Resources to get to the Doe and make a decision, live or die. If it can't live, then then put it out of it's agony and kill it as humanly as you can. And give the meat to somebody.
Mister Meisters Comment about the deer would end up in a wild animal preserve to live anyway and would be in a enclosed facilty would be such but it would live.
I'm wondering what makes Mr Meister such an expert on Wildlife management.
What is his resume and background to get a job like that.Totally not a Yukoner.
Up 33 Down 4
Anna Mitchell on Feb 8, 2017 at 5:47 pm
An unfortunate situation all around and certainly the off-leash dog may have been a contributing factor. This is the kind of drama that happens frequently throughout the Yukon, this instance just happened to be in a highly visible location. Once injured, intervention under the type of weather and circumstances we are experiencing would almost certainly have resulted in the same outcome. Live and let die may be a harsh reality yet it is nature's most practical solution. A sad outcome for the deer, yes, but a myriad of other creatures have been succored by it's death.
Up 8 Down 20
Nile on Feb 8, 2017 at 5:18 pm
Could have been a dog chasing the deer. It could also have been a wolf or coyote.
Up 38 Down 7
Mitch on Feb 8, 2017 at 4:48 pm
Give your heads a shake so called Yukoners. I have been here a long time, long enough to remember a time where the folks around here understood what could, should or would be done if it could be. Dangerous conditions and yes, unfortunately a deer died on the ice where it would want to die, not at a vet getting a lethal injection or with conservation officers in the river or out thousands of dollars. If the carcass is recovered it will feed those in need first. By the looks of these comments, none of you will be getting any venison. Belt up that's life.
Up 175 Down 18
Shauna on Feb 8, 2017 at 4:27 pm
I find it extremely sad that people need to point a finger... and not even in the right direction!
If there is a person or people to be held accountable for the deer being injured and stranded... it would be best to speak to the owner of the dog that was off leash and able to do such a thing in the first place!
This happened within city limits and our bylaws are to have dogs leashed at all times.... sadly many do not do this and their loose dog causes harm to other animals or people!
Unfortunately the government, rcmp and conservation officers are wrongly blamed for others wrong decisions.
Up 173 Down 6
Groucho d'North on Feb 8, 2017 at 4:07 pm
I am more concerned about dogs running down wildlife and causing their end than I am about young people learning how life and death in the natural world really is. If you want to stop the visible carnage, be more responsible for the dogs. We're the Wilderness City, remember?
Up 38 Down 112
LL on Feb 8, 2017 at 3:46 pm
The information that was given to Keighlan and others who had phoned the conservation and the RCMP was that the deer was injured (one of its legs) and that they would let nature take its course. They had most of yesterday afternoon to do something and knew that foxes and ravens were harassing it. I am totally disgusted with the response. If it was injured they could have tranquilized it and taken it to the Wildlife Preserve where there is a vet on site until it recovered. If they had the tools to get it off of the ice I am shocked nothing was done. They didn't want to intervene as it may then end up in captivity or dead - that is what happened but it suffered for hours which is unacceptable.
Up 100 Down 10
ProScience Greenie on Feb 8, 2017 at 3:38 pm
Those ravens aren't complaining or feeling defeated.
Up 83 Down 5
Jonathan Colby on Feb 8, 2017 at 3:34 pm
"a society founded on the preservation of animal life."
What? There is no real thing that fits that description.
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Krissy Brown on Feb 8, 2017 at 3:31 pm
I am just disgusted that Yukon authorities decided to not help this poor deer. I get it, nature takes its course BUT this was not out of town where resources are limited. This was right in the middle of downtown. Many residents reached out to try and help but were told that they could be up on criminal charges if they decided to go ahead and do so. UNREAL. Whether it was stuck in the ice or not, the poor thing was suffering. They had absolutely no intention of helping that animal last night but were there today to get it off the ice. What was wrong with doing this last night when the poor thing was still alive and suffering? Why couldn't he be saved yesterday and taken to the Wildlife Preserve to recover? At the VERY least, put it out of its misery and feed a couple of in-need families in town. I'm sure there are many people out there that would graciously take a deer carcass to feed their family.
Up 179 Down 10
pat on Feb 8, 2017 at 3:31 pm
Sad yes, but part of nature and parents need to be ready to explain the cycle of life. The big question is how could a dog have chased this animal onto the river ice? Dogs must be on a leash in the city or is that just a rule for some and not all?