Jodi Proger, a 64-year-old Ohio resident with a passion for animals, tragically lost her life in an incident involving a deer she had been rehabilitating on her property in Stewartsville, Ohio. The unfortunate event, which took place on November 15, has ignited a contentious debate over which deer in her care was involved in the fatal encounter.
Proger had devoted the last 12 years of her life to the rescue and rehabilitation of whitetail deer on her five-acre property, situated roughly two hours south of Akron. The tragic incident transpired when she found herself cornered in an enclosure with one of the deer. To reach Proger, Belmont County police officers were forced to neutralize the aggressive deer. Proger was declared dead at the scene due to injuries that have not been disclosed.
Proger’s journey as a deer rescuer began in 2013 when she saw a doe struck and killed by a vehicle on an Ohio highway. She saved 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 seize and cull him following a complaint.
Wheezer became a cherished member of Proger’s family, often seen lounging on the furniture in her home and even sharing meals 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.
Following Proger’s death, her daughter, Jennifer Bryan, took to social media to dispel rumors that Wheezer was the deer involved in the attack. Bryan stressed that Wheezer had been neutered as per the requirements of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources when Proger received her permit.
Bryan also underscored that her mother was licensed to care for the deer and was fully cognizant of the risks associated with interacting with wild species. She called 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 recognized as the deadliest animal in the United States, causing approximately 440 deaths annually, accounting for over 96% of all wildlife-related deaths.