Grandma Mauled to Death by Deer She Rescued, and the Animal Has Now Been Killed by Police

An Ohio woman known for rehabilitating injured deer has died after being attacked by one of the animals in her care, authorities said.

Deputies responded late Saturday night, Nov. 15, to the property of 64-year-old Jodi Proger in Stewartsville after a call reporting an animal attack, Belmont County Sheriff James Zusack stated. When law enforcement arrived around 10:27 p.m., relatives told them Proger was trapped inside an enclosure with a male deer she had been trying to rehabilitate. They said the deer unexpectedly became aggressive.

Family members tried to intervene and reach her before deputies arrived. The animal was ultimately put down by responding officers to secure the scene, according to Zusack. Proger died from her injuries and was pronounced dead at the property. The Belmont County Coroner’s Office assisted at the scene, and officials said there is no indication of foul play.

Proger’s love for deer rescue stretched back more than a decade. In 2013, she took in a newborn fawn after its mother was struck and killed by a car. She named the deer Wheezer and raised him alongside her husband and other animals, eventually allowing him to move freely in and out of the house under supervision. In past interviews, she described Wheezer as a calm, affectionate presence who behaved much like a family pet.

Over the years, that experience inspired Proger to expand her efforts, helping other injured deer and sharing advice with people seeking guidance on wildlife care. Her obituary noted that she regularly offered support and resources to others dealing with wounded animals.

After her death, Proger’s daughter, Jennifer Bryan, emphasized that Wheezer was not the deer involved in the attack. In a Facebook post shared Tuesday, Nov. 18, Bryan said Wheezer had been neutered in accordance with Ohio Department of Natural Resources permitting requirements and had lived safely with the family for years. She added that her mother understood the risks of working with deer and had done so for about 12 years.

Bryan also wrote that her mother was alone when the attack occurred, while Proger’s husband was hospitalized in the ICU recovering from a separate work-related injury. When family members couldn’t reach her, Bryan sent her husband to check the property. He eventually discovered a deer loose outside its enclosure and struggled to secure it before the family called for help.

Proger is survived by her daughter, sister, three grandchildren, and four step-grandchildren.