Oh deer! Moment distressed stag is spotted with its antlers caught in a rope swing before RSPCA cut it free
- A fisherman spotted the deer in distress in a woodland in Knutsford, Cheshire
- The animal paces back and forwards as it tries to free itself from the rope swing
- It was rescued by the RSPCA and released back into the wild immediately after
A stag had to be rescued by the RSPCA after it somehow got its antlers caught on a rope swing hanging from a tree.
Footage shows the distressed deer attempting to pull itself free from the swing by a stream in woodland in Knutsford, Cheshire.
A fisherman spotted the distressed animal and alerted the animal rescuers.
A fisherman spotted the deer in distress in a woodland in Knutsford, Cheshire, after it became tangled in a rope swing hanging from a tree
In the footage, taken on September 28, the distressed animal thrashes about in an attempt to free itself, but is stuck.
It stands on its hind legs to try and untangle itself, but is pulled back by the rope to stand in the stream.
The movements of the animal cause the branch to shake but the deer it unable to get loose.
RSPCA Inspector Nadine Pengilly had to hide behind a tree so she didn’t scare the deer then waited for the moment to cut him free.
The distressed animal thrashes about and stands on its hind legs in an attempt to free itself before the RSPCA arrived
An RSPCA spokesman said: ‘The poor deer was thrashing around trying to free himself and was becoming agitated when Nadine was near.
‘So the rescue took a lot of time and patience to make sure the deer was calm before approaching.’
Insp Pengilly said: ‘This deer was lucky someone was fishing nearby and spotted him otherwise I think he could have been stuck there for a while.
The animal continues to move to try and get itself free which causes the branch of the tree to shake but the rope is still stuck and the deer can’t get loose
‘He had run into a tree swing and got his head and antlers entangled in the rope. There was a lot of patience involved in this rescue.
‘After a couple of attempts, I managed to come out from the tree and cut the rope releasing the deer and freeing it from the rope before the deer ran back off into the woods.
‘The deer was in really good condition so thankfully could be released immediately.’