Jodi Proger, a 64-year-old Ohio resident and animal enthusiast, tragically lost her life after being attacked by a deer she had been rehabilitating on her property in Stewartsville, Ohio. The incident, which occurred on November 15, has sparked a heated debate over which of the deer in her care was responsible for the fatal attack.
Proger had dedicated the past 12 years of her life to rescuing and rehabilitating whitetail deer on her five-acre property, located approximately two hours south of Akron. The unfortunate incident occurred when she became trapped in an enclosure with one of the deer. Belmont County police officers were compelled to shoot the aggressive deer to reach Proger, who was pronounced dead at the scene due to undisclosed injuries.
Proger’s journey as a deer rescuer began in 2013 when she witnessed a doe being hit and killed by a car on an Ohio highway. She rescued the doe’s newborn fawn, which was circling its mother’s body on the roadside. Proger named the fawn Wheezer and fought to keep him when the Ohio Department of Natural Resources threatened to take and cull him following a complaint.
Wheezer became a beloved member of Proger’s family, often seen lounging on the furniture in her home and even sharing food with her. Proger’s Facebook page is filled with images of Wheezer, who is seen wearing matching outfits with Proger on various holidays. Since adopting Wheezer, Proger has rescued at least four other deer, as evidenced by her Facebook posts.
In the wake of Proger’s death, her daughter, Jennifer Bryan, took to social media to quash rumors that Wheezer was the deer responsible for the attack. Bryan emphasized that Wheezer had been neutered as per the requirements of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources when Proger received her permit.
Bryan also highlighted that her mother was licensed to care for the deer and was fully aware of the risks associated with interacting with wild species. She urged for respect and time for the family to grieve this tragic loss.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Ohio Department of Agriculture are currently investigating Proger’s death. The Belmont County Police Department has yet to comment on the incident. Deer are known to be the deadliest animal in the United States, causing approximately 440 deaths annually, accounting for over 96% of all wildlife-related deaths.