Thin deer triggers Arcadia protests

A picture and comments on social media about a thin buck deer — a deer whose keeper said is just getting old — has set off a stampede of objections to the city of Arcadia.

“We are doing everything humanly possible to make sure we’re doing what we should about this deer,” said Arcadia city manager Chad Hawkins. 

He said the city has been deluged with calls of concern about the animal, whose ribs and hip bones can be seen in the posted photographs. The buck is a resident of Rudy Klink Deer Park in Arcadia, a city feature since at least 1930.

“Got some food for these poor babys... so skinny!” was the social media post accompanying photos of the deer grazing in thick grass that began the flood of concern last week. Also in the enclosure is a younger buck, a doe and two fawns. 

The person posting the message encouraged people to throw the animals food, an action Hawkins said could be harmful to the deer.

“I wish (the concerned person) had just called us before setting this whole thing off,” Hawkins said.

The deer keeper said the thin animal is an eight-year-old buck that is dying. The keeper, who is a volunteer and not a city employee, said he has had some trouble getting minerals for the animals but they receive feed paid for by the city.

The state Department of Agriculture , Trade and Consumer Protection received an online complaint about the deer’s condition. A department spokesman said the complaint was sent to the sheriff’s office. 

A veterinarian with the department said age, parasites and disease could all account for a thin deer. She said deer consume grass and forage for other edibles. 

Mayor Rob Reichwein said a decision of whether the city wants to keep operating the deer park “may be something up for discussion.”