‘Remarkable act of compassion’ saves unborn baby deer after mom is hit by car
A days-old fawn will have the chance to grow up thanks to an animal control officer’s “remarkable act of compassion” in Oklahoma.
Phil Blair, the animal control supervisor with the city of Muskogee, “has long been a hero to the dogs and cats” of the city, officials said in a May 19 news release. But the call on that day was not your typical case of a lost pet or stray animal.
“I received a call about a deer that had been struck by a car at Howard and 45th Street,” he said in the release. “When I arrived, it had four broken legs, and I realized I would need to put it down.”
Blair euthanized the animal — but then his co-worker saw the deer’s belly move, officials said.
Both men realized then that the deer was pregnant. And though neither one was trained in veterinary medicine, they got to work.
“I rushed to the truck, grabbed my gloves and a knife, and got it out,” he said. “I knew it wouldn’t survive if I didn’t do something.”
The men weren’t sure the little fawn would make it in the moments after they brought it into the world.
“At first, it struggled to breathe, and I feared it wouldn’t make it,” Blair said. “I wiped it down and cleared its nose a bit, and then it began to squall. When it tried to stand up in my truck, I knew it was going to be alright.”
Blair took the baby deer to an animal rehabilitation specialist where it would have “the best chance of survival without its mother,” officials said. After only three days there, the fawn was “thriving in its new environment.”
“Despite the challenging circumstances, Blair’s quick thinking and action ensured the survival of the unborn baby deer,” the city said in a May 19 post on Facebook.
“It is clear that he is passionate about his work,” a city spokesperson said in a statement.
This story was originally published May 23, 2025 at 3:10 PM with the headline "‘Remarkable act of compassion’ saves unborn baby deer after mom is hit by car."
