In the small town of Fulshear, Texas, a surprising and heartfelt story unfolded on what appeared to be just another day on patrol for Officer Kevin Zieschang. He was responding to a call—a report of an animal in distress—not uncommon, but this one had a twist. A young deer, later endearingly named “Uncle Buck,” had been spotted tied to a tree at a nearby construction site.
Officer Zieschang quickly made his way to the scene. Upon arrival, he found the construction workers already in action. Taking the matter into their own hands, the crew had gently freed the deer and removed the rope tangled in its antlers. Relief quickly turned into curiosity as the deer didn’t bolt into the woods as expected—instead, the young buck hung around, walking calmly toward the officer. What could have been just a rescue turned into a rare moment of connection between wild animal and human.
The unexpected behavior didn’t end there. According to the construction crew and captured video footage, the deer seemed to crave affection, nudging, licking, and standing close to anyone nearby. In the video, someone can be heard saying, “He’s just hanging out, man.” It became evident that this wild animal had grown accustomed to people—most likely due to previous human interaction and feeding, according to suspicions raised by the Fulshear Police Department.
The team affectionately named the deer “Uncle Buck”, and he lived up to the name, behaving more like a domesticated animal than a wild one. As the rescue gained media attention, local reporters came to cover the story—and to the astonishment of everyone, Uncle Buck returned once again to the scene of his rescue. Cameras rolled as he strolled into view, seemingly eager to greet Officer Zieschang and the media crew. A bystander humorously narrated the moment captured on video:
“So, Officer Ziechang is out here with the news media talking about the deer that was tied up yesterday, and during the news conference, the deer showed back up.”
Uncle Buck posed for photos, walked up to trucks, sniffed cameras, and showed no fear—even in the unfamiliar flurry of commotion. Officer Zieschang mused warmly, “He came back to see me!” Despite the joy surrounding the deer’s rescue and public charm, Zieschang was quick to remind residents of an important message—Uncle Buck, while friendly, was still a wild animal. He warned the public not to harm deer that wander into urban yards and emphasized that the animal shouldn’t be mistaken as a pet.
Concerned about his safety, the police and animal welfare workers made the decision to relocate Uncle Buck to a safer environment. They carefully sedated him and transported him to a nearby animal sanctuary in Katy, Texas, where he would be protected and no longer at risk of injury or harmful human interaction.
According to the department’s official update:
- The deer was gently sedated by hand after a short struggle.
- He was then safely placed in a vehicle for transport.
- Now resides at a large animal sanctuary, where he is said to be adapting well to his new surroundings.
Uncle Buck is now living a peaceful life, far from construction sites and curious onlookers. His story remains a touching reminder of the unexpected bonds that can form between humans and wildlife, and a gentle lesson on the ways animals can be both wild and wonderful.
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