THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 26, 1994 TAG: 9410260482
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARY REID BARROW, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
Three marine researchers scanning the ocean for dolphins recently discovered a different kind of mammal swimming in the waves.
The trio were aboard the Virginia Marine Science Museum's 18-foot Boston whaler out beyond the 15th Street pier Saturday when what should appear but a deer.
``It was heading straight out in the ocean,'' said Mark Vang, a museum employee and a volunteer with the Operation Dolphin program. ``It was beyond the 15th Street pier by at least 1 1/2 (pier) lengths.''
The crew quickly turned its research operation into a rescue.
Vang was operating the boat. Intern Susan Barco, a James Madison University graduate student, and museum volunteer Wendy Walton, a veterinary technician at the Emergency Veterinary Hospital in Newport News, were with him.
``It was bizarre,'' Walton said, ``like, `No, way,' but you didn't have time to think about it.''
Walton rigged a rope bridle around the deer's head. By holding tight to the bridle and the deer's tail, Barco and Walton managed to secure the full-grown, 80-pound female alongside the boat as Vang maneuvered toward shore. They called the Animal Control Bureau on a cellular phone and asked that they meet them on the beach.
``Poor thing, she was exhausted,'' Walton said. ``Instead of thrashing around, she would just coast along with the boat and close her eyes - poor baby.''
A crowd of onlookers gathered on the beach, Vang said, while the trio and their unusual catch waited offshore for Animal Control. Since the boat couldn't be taken safely through the surf to shore, they decided to tether the long anchor line to the deer's bridle.
When Animal Control arrived, Vang donned a life vest and dived into the chilly water with the line in hand and swam to shallow water. Then he started hauling the deer ashore.
When the deer reached the surf, she was knocked over by a wave. She put up no resistance when Vang and others carried her to the truck.
``When we got the deer in the truck,'' Vang said, ``everybody on the beach cheered.''
Vang swam back to the boat, and the three went off to continue their study of the dolphin population off Virginia's coast.
Back at the Animal Control Bureau, the deer was put out on the grass to rest and warm up. After about 45 minutes, she began to stand and finally got her legs back. Then she took off in the woods. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by Ahireen Altman, Animal Control Bureau
The deer - saved by researchers with the marine museum - regains her
strength in the sun behind Animal Control.
by CNB