A grandmother who dedicated over a decade to rescuing and rehabilitating whitetail deer has been tragically killed by one of the animals she loved.
A Life Dedicated to Rescue
Jodi Proger, 64, spent 12 years caring for dozens of injured whitetail deer across her five-acre property in Belmont County. Her passion for animal rescue began in 2013 when she witnessed a heartbreaking scene on an Ohio highway - a doe had been killed by a car, leaving its days-old fawn circling the mother's body.
Despite initial hesitation, Jodi turned her car around and rescued the newborn male deer, who she named Wheezer. The fawn quickly became part of the family, even joining them indoors to watch television and forming bonds with the family's cats and dog.
The Tragic Attack
The peaceful existence shattered when Jodi was trapped inside a deer enclosure and violently attacked by a buck. Family members desperately tried to intervene and subdue the aggressive animal before law enforcement arrived.
When Jennifer Bryan, Jodi's daughter, couldn't reach her mother, she sent her husband to search the property. He discovered the deer wasn't properly secured and struggled to contain it, during which the animal nearly broke his hands.
Belmont County Sheriff James Zusack confirmed that responding deputies were forced to shoot the deer to reach Jodi and ensure scene safety. Tragically, Jodi was pronounced dead at the scene from her injuries.
Clarifying the Facts
In the aftermath, Jennifer took to social media to clarify crucial details about the incident. She confirmed that the attacking deer was not Wheezer, the original fawn her mother rescued back in 2013.
"Wheezer DID NOT kill my mother," Jennifer wrote in a Facebook post. "He was neutered per the requirements of ODNR when she received her permit. My mom knew the dangers of owning deer - she's been doing this for 12 years."
The family tragedy was compounded by the fact that Jodi was alone at the time of the attack, as her husband was recovering from a work accident in hospital.
Jennifer described the heartbreaking moment she had to inform her stepfather that his wife was gone, standing outside "screaming and crying for my mother" after receiving the devastating news from her husband.
