APTOS, Calif. -- This time of year, deer are getting caught up in love, literally. "Looking for love, and getting trouble," said Rebecca Dmytryck, Wildrescue Director.
A video the non-profit rescue group shot shows a confused deer that wandered into netting at a soccer field in Aptos and thrashed so hard witnesses saw it drag the soccer goal completely off the field and called for help.
Volunteers with Wildrescue were able to free him after the deer struggle for hours.
"It was a pretty gnarly rescue. We don't like dealing with deer," said Dmytryck.
Dmytryk said the stress from getting caught can actually kill them. Its called capture myopathy. It's a condition induced by extreme fear, anxiety or exertion.
"It can have a heart attack immediately, or it can be fighting so hard against the netting or against us trying to get it out of the predicament, that over time it can even die weeks later from that trauma," said Dmytryck.
Wildrescue is asking homeowners in rural areas to pack away soccer and softball nets, hammocks, and swing sets if they can. Wildrescue already got three reports this week.
"There may be a lot of them, there are a lot of deer. A lot of other animals out there. But it's still a life and that's something sacred to everybody," said Dmytryck.
That deer in Aptos was so exhausted, he rested before taking off, it's unknown if he survived. Mating season for deer last through October and November.
