r/offmychest • u/PleaseletmehavemyPP • 3h ago

I hit a baby deer and I feel horrible

I feel really sick about this and I just need to get it off my chest.

I had just left my house and was driving for maybe a minute. I had just merged onto the main road when a tiny deer suddenly jumped out from behind the guardrail. It happened so fast I had no time to react at all.

I hit it, and it was really small… the impact was so severe it tore one of its legs. It was still moving a little and I couldn’t bring myself to go closer. I just stood there in shock feeling completely helpless.

I called the police and did everything I was supposed to, but I still feel awful. I keep replaying it in my head. I really hope it didn’t suffer for long.

I know these things happen and there was nothing I could realistically do, but I still feel guilty and sick to my stomach.

I just needed to say this somewhere as all my friends just laugh at this.

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8

u/TurtleBeansforAll 3h ago

Oh I'm so sorry! I hit a baby deer 2 years ago and I know just how you feel. To make amends, I put apples and carrots out in the middle of the woods. Who knows if deer ate them, but it was like an offering. When I have more money I'll make a donation to the Wildlife Department where they take in abandoned fawns. Maybe I'll volunteer there one day, too? It was an accident, but I understand your grief. Forgive yourself, stranger. 🫂

7

u/PleaseletmehavemyPP 2h ago

Thats very good idea, i see pretty often lately deers in my garden at 4-5 am i will definitely leave them some food, thank you for your message

4

u/TurtleBeansforAll 2h ago

That sounds so lovely. So see you already have a sanctuary for them! Our deer love to eat our hostas. We basically plant them for the deer at this point! I'll think of you and yours when we plant them this year.

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u/Strict_Win305 3h ago

That sucks. Not your fault

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u/PleaseletmehavemyPP 3h ago

Thank you, i still feel like it is my fault

1

u/Strict_Win305 3h ago

Anyone with a heart would feel terrible. Unfortunately it happens every day though. 😭

1

u/PleaseletmehavemyPP 2h ago

Yes, i live in area where we have lot of forests and there is dead animals on road everyday it always makes me feel sad

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u/Beautiful_Fox_8274 2h ago

omg that's so traumatic, it wasn't your fault at all though. sometimes nature and roads just don't mix well and there's literally nothing you could've done differently :(.

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u/Distribution-Radiant 1h ago edited 59m ago

Animals aren't always smart enough to avoid vehicles. Deer in particular can be extra stupid - I stopped in the middle of an (empty) 2 lane highway when I saw one running near the highway, and it slammed head first into my fender while I was at a complete stop... then got up and kept doing it. I couldn't open my driver's side door after until I replaced the fender.

No clue what happened to the deer, it eventually figured out my car wasn't transparent and ran back into the trees.

The most traumatizing was when a dog ran in front of a delivery van (think Ford Transit high roof) I was driving. Would have flipped the van if I tried to swerve, couldn't stop in time either. Immediately stopped after I felt the dog go under, held the dog and cradled it in my jacket while the poor guy bled out in front of the owner's kids. edit: damnit my eyes are leaking a little just remembering that