08/04/2026
UPDATE :
Between the call to us and our arrival to free the deer , a local had already seen what was happening and got her cut out of the fence and repaired the fence . He said she just had a slight limp
And appeared fine when she jogged off. .
Early this morning, TVWT received a call about an adult doe that had become entangled in a fence in Oak Knolls.
From the reporting party’s photo, it appeared her left hind hoof was caught over the top wire, leaving her unable to free herself.
Adult deer are classified as large game, which means there are specific laws and regulations governing how they can be assisted. Our first call was to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, but unfortunately there was no wildlife officer available in the area.
Our next call was to the wildlife biologist we work with who oversees the Bakersfield team. Although she was out of the area, she immediately notified her team in case someone was available to respond.
At the same time, we asked the reporting party to contact the HOA for permission to cut the fence if necessary. Given the position of the deer, attempting to physically restrain or handle her would have been extremely dangerous for everyone involved.
Before additional help could arrive, the doe managed to free herself. We met up with retired Warden Smith who responded to our biologists call out just after the doe freed herself . Many thanks to our Bakersfeild CDFW team for getting someone out .
The reporting party heard significant struggling and believes the deer may have injured her leg during the ordeal. We’d appreciate the Oak Knolls community keeping an eye out for her over the coming days.
The good news is that deer are incredibly resilient. Even if the injury results in the permanent loss of the leg, deer often adapt remarkably well and can continue living long, healthy lives on three legs.
If you happen to see this doe and notice how she is doing, please send us a message with the location and, if possible, a photo. We can then relay it to the CDFW team for review and potential action .
Thank you to the reporting party for acting quickly and to everyone who helped coordinate a response while keeping both people and wildlife safe. 💚
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