A deer which was rescued by using car jacks to widen a fence is among the best rescues made by the RSPCA last year.
The deer became trapped between two fence posts after trying to jump over the fence at the Standen House and Gardens National Trust site in East Grinstead in November.
Rescuers from the animal charity were able to save the animal by using the car jack to widen the gap between the fence post and slide the deer out to safety.
Animal rescue officer Sam Matthews said: “It looked like she tried to leap over the fence but didn’t quite make it. She slid down between the posts and got caught between her hips and ribs.
“She didn’t put up much of a fight when we arrived. We popped a towel over her head to keep her calm. The staff were very good at calming her and kept visitors away until we managed to free her.
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“Thankfully we managed to release her by using the car jack to widen the gap, before lifting her out. She seemed absolutely fine and bounded off back into the wild.
“We often hear of deer getting tangled in the netting itself, but not trapped between the fencing posts!
“Staff are going to place wood in the gap to prevent it happening again. Deer can get stuck in quite small spaces so it's always worth checking fencing to make sure it’s safe for wildlife.”
The rescue was named by the charity among some of its best in the past year. Other rescues highlighted included a sheep stuck in a manhole and a seal pup found 18 miles inland after swimming up a river.
The RSPCA, based in Horsham, is celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2024.
The charity’s inspectorate commissioner Dermot Murphy said: “For 200 years, the RSPCA has been working tirelessly to bring animals to safety and give them the expert treatment and compassion they deserve - but we can’t do that without the support of fellow animal lovers.
“We’re asking animal lovers to join the winter rescue by donating to help rescue teams reach the thousands of animals who desperately need them.”
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