Game Commission honors Latrobe student for bringing help to entangled deer
A Greater Latrobe ninth-grader’s sharp eyes and caring response helped free a white-tailed deer trapped in Unity this past fall.
Pennsylvania Game Commission officers surprised Parker Williams on Friday when they arrived at her school and presented her with a certificate, recognizing the initiative she took on Nov. 4 to help the distressed animal.
According to Ken Williams, a deputy game warden with the Game Commission’s Southwest Region office near Bolivar, Parker was riding home on a school bus when she noticed a deer caught in a cow fence along a wooded area about 125 yards from Johnson Road in Unity.
“The deer tried to jump over the fence and got its hind leg caught and was struggling,” said Ken Williams, who is not related to the girl. “She realized she needed to get help to that deer and was texting with her father, describing the situation.”
Following up, she called the Game Commission and reported the deer’s dilemma to a dispatcher, who, in turn, alerted the game warden.
Ken Williams wasn’t certain the young female deer would survive but was encouraged by the animal’s response once freed. “I was able to free the deer’s leg from the fence and it stumbled a little bit, but it was able to get back on its feet and was able to take off through the landscape,” he said.
He and Game Warden William Brehun presented Parker with a certificate of appreciation along with a kit for constructing a bluebird box so she can continue wildlife conservation efforts in her backyard.
“It’s nice to acknowledge someone who thinks beyond themselves,” Ken Williams said.
It’s not uncommon for staff at the Southwest Region office to receive a call about a deer’s misadventure in a man-made setting, he said. In addition to fences, they frequently become trapped in swimming pools.
He advised others who find wildlife in distress to contact the Game Commission while refraining from approaching the animal. The Southwest Region office can be reached at pgc-swregion@pa.gov or 724-238-9523.
Jeff Himler is a TribLive reporter covering Greater Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant Area and Derry Area school districts and their communities. He also reports on transportation issues. A journalist for more than three decades, he enjoys delving into local history. He can be reached at jhimler@triblive.com.
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