Helicopter charge doesn't dislodge stranded deer

Aaron Orlando/Revelstoke Times Review

A helicopter with a B.C. Conservation Officer Service member on board charges a deer stranded on a gravel bar in the middle of the Columbia River near Centennial Park on Feb. 19 in an attempt of force it off the small island.

Even a swooping charge by a roaring helicopter couldn't convince a Big Eddy deer to hoof it to safety on Sunday.

The deer was reported to authorities after spending an unknown number of days stuck on the small gravel island in the Columbia River. You can see the deer from Centennial Park – though the animal is easy to miss if you aren't looking for it.

RCMP officers in more than one vehicle and a conservation officer took action on Feb. 19. The conservation officer boarded a helicopter to check out the scene. The helicopter circled the island a couple of times before swooping down in an attempt to drive the deer off the island towards the Big Eddy. Although the deer did run briefly, it didn't jump into the river and remained on the island after the helicopter left a minute later.

An RCMP officer on the scene told the Times Review that the conservation officer felt the water between the island and the Big Eddy was shallow enough for the deer to make it off on its own.

Other than the small flurry of activity on Sunday, no further actions are planned.

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