AN ANIMAL-LOVING grandma has been mauled to death by a deer she helped to rescue after becoming trapped inside its enclosure.
Jodi Proger, 64, spent 12 years helping to rehabilitate dozens of injured whitetail deer on her five-acre home in Stewartsville, Ohio, before her tragic death.
The grandmother was killed by a buck on November 15 after becoming trapped inside an enclosure, WSYX reported.
It remains unclear which of the deer is the killer due to their being several inside with Jodi when she was found.
One of the bucks was shot by Belmont County police officers after they struggled to get inside the pen to locate Jodi’s boy.
Cops said the deer was overly aggressive as the officers approached.
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Jodi was passionate about saving and nurturing deer after witnessing a doe be killed by a car in 2013.
The Ohio native stopped her car and ran across the highway to rescue its days-old fawn as it heartbreakingly circled around its mother’s body.
She named the baby Wheezer and kept him safe for two years before receiving a complaint from a disgruntled local.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources threatened to cull Wheezer but after a Jodi explained she was going to start up a rehab centre for deer she was allowed to keep him.
As he grew up, Jodi compared Wheezer to a big dog with antlers.
Her social media would often feature the huge animal roaming around the home and even sleeping on Jodi’s bed.
Concerns were quickly raised over if Wheezer was responsible for Jodi’s death due to how comfortable she was around him.
An emotional Jennifer Bryan, Jodi’s daughter, took to social media to dispel the rumors.
She declared: “Wheezer DID NOT kill my mom.
“He was neutered per the requirements of [Ohio Department of Natural Resources] when she received her permit.”
At the time of her death, Jodi was looking after four other does and bucks.
Bryan added: “My mom knew the dangers of owning deer.
“She worked within Belmont county to rescue and aide [sic] many animals over her lifespan.
“This is a sad tragedy and we deserve RESPECT and time to grieve.”
Male whitetail deer can grow to over three feet tall at the shoulder and can often weigh up to 300 pounds, according to the National Park Service.
Investigations into Jodi’s death are ongoing.
The deadly attack comes after a grizzly bear mauled children and teachers on a school trip, leaving at least 11 injured.
A group of fourth and fifth graders were reportedly on a walk with teachers when the fierce animal attacked them in Canada.
It follows a young wrestler who told The Sun about the time he was mauled by a savage 500lb grizzly bear.
Kendell Cummings, 23, felt like “a snack” after having chunks ripped from his face in an encounter with a female grizzly in the Wyoming wilderness.
