A 64-year-old rehabilitator of wild deer has died after being attacked by one of the animals she kept on her property in Stewartsville, Belmont County, Ohio. According to the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office the incident occurred on Saturday evening, November 15, when deputies responded at approximately 10:27 pm to a report of an animal attack at the home of Jodi Proger.
Family members told investigators that Proger had become trapped inside an enclosure with a male deer that she was attempting to rehabilitate, and that the animal appeared to have turned aggressive. “Family members attempted to intervene and dispatch the animal prior to the arrival of law enforcement to reach the victim; however, the animal was ultimately dispatched by responding deputies to ensure scene safety,” said Sheriff James Zusack in a statement.
At the scene, deputies say they found Proger already fatally injured and she was pronounced dead there. One of the deer was shot by officers to gain access to the enclosure.
Proger had for around 12 years been involved in rescuing and rehabilitating whitetail deer and other wildlife on her five-acre property in and around Stewartsville. Her work began when, in 2013, she discovered an injured fawn whose mother had been killed by a vehicle; she rescued the young deer and named him “Wheezer”.
Over time the deer became a fixture of her home environment. In a 2015 interview with the outlet The Dodo, Proger described Wheezer as playful: “He’ll climb up on the loveseat and he’ll watch a little TV and he’ll crash on the loveseat,” she said.
She told the interviewer that she initially hesitated, saying “I wasn’t gonna do it, but I did it.”
At the time of her death, she was reportedly caring for at least four other deer in addition to Wheezer.
In the aftermath of the attack, speculation emerged as to which animal committed the assault. Some coverage suggested Wheezer might have been the culprit. However, Proger’s daughter, Jennifer Bryan, took to Facebook to say that Wheezer was not responsible. “Wheezer DID NOT kill my mother,” Bryan wrote, adding that he had been neutered in compliance with the requirements of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) when the permit was issued.
Bryan also noted that her mother “knew the dangers of owning deer, she worked within Belmont County to rescue and aide many animals over her lifespan.” She wrote: “This is a sad tragedy and we deserve RESPECT and time to grieve.”
Investigators from both the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Ohio Department of Agriculture have reportedly opened inquiries into the incident, examining the legal status of the deer, how they were housed and whether all regulations were followed.
The setting of the attack was Proger’s property in Stewartsville. Deputies arrived to find her trapped inside a deer pen and one of the male deer behaving aggressively. Because multiple deer were present, the specific identity of the animal responsible remains uncertain.
In her earlier interview with The Dodo, Proger told how Wheezer had become part of the household: “Him and the dog will lie on the floor with each other. He loves the cats — he licks them to death.”
Her obituary noted: “Jodi provided her knowledge of caring for injured animals and offered assistance to others, which often included advocating and providing resources during their time of need… Jodi was appreciative and thankful for all of her ‘Wheezer Warriors.’”
Family statements say that when contact with Proger could not be made, Bryan’s husband visited the property to check on her. He discovered that one of the deer was not locked in and struggled to secure it; he sustained hand injuries during the attempt. Bryan described the moment: “The deer almost broke my husband’s hands during the struggle … I told Matt to get his gun, if there was a deer in his way to kill it if he had to get to my mother.”
According to the authorities, no foul play is suspected in Proger’s death.
Wildlife experts point out that mature male whitetail deer can grow to over three feet tall at the shoulder and weigh up to around 300 pounds — weight and strength that underscore the potential danger of these animals even when hand-raised or habituated.
The incident has sparked renewed attention to the risks inherent in rehabilitation and private keeping of large wild animals. Proger’s decade-long record of rescue work reflected deep personal commitment; however, the fatal outcome underscores that such efforts carry significant hazards.
Proger is survived by her daughter, grandchildren, a sister, and step-grandchildren. Her husband was hospitalised in the intensive-care burn unit at the time of the incident, and thus was not present at the property when the attack occurred. The family is in mourning and has asked for privacy as investigations proceed.
As the investigation continues, authorities are expected to examine the enclosure’s condition, the animals’ handling and any relevant regulatory compliance. The exact circumstances of how Proger came to be trapped with the deer and what triggered the attack remain to be fully determined.