Baby deer found in South Queensferry recovering

Deer fawn Phoenix has been nursed back to health by SSPCA Wildlife assistant Alex Morris. Pic: SSPCA

The male fallow deer, who has been named Phoenix, was just a few days old when he was discovered barely alive in a South Queensferry garden.

Wildlife assistant Alex Morris, 26, based at the charity’s National Wildlife Rescue Centre in Fishcross, specialises in hand-rearing deer fawns and has been acting as Phoenix’s surrogate mother.

Alex said: “Phoenix was barely alive when he arrived. I didn’t think he was going to make it as he was hardly breathing and was so cold.

“It was around 11pm so I took him home with me and sat with him under a duvet to help bring up his body temperature.

“At around 4am I woke up and he was looking at me, which is when I knew he had a chance of making a recovery.

“Phoenix is now six weeks old and is doing really well. He’s needed a lot of one to one attention and I’m still hand-feeding him but I hope to wean him when he’s aged around two to three months.”

And it is hoped that the deer will eventually be released back into the wild.

“Once Phoenix is able to fend for himself he’ll be released at a carefully selected site where he’ll be able to integrate with an existing herd of fallow deer,” Alex said.

“It’s always sad to say goodbye to my deer fawns as I build up such a strong bond with them.

“However, bringing Phoenix back from the brink of death is one of my biggest achievements this year and I’ll be so happy to see him return to the wild fit and healthy.”

Centre manager Colin Seddon praised Alex’s efforts, saying, “Without her compassion and devotion, Phoenix would not have survived.”