Deer Living In East Boston Yard Caught, Relocated To Woods

BOSTON (CBS) -- Massachusetts Environmental Police tranquilized and relocated a female deer from the back yard of a home in East Boston Wednesday.

The deer was first spotted in December, but authorities were not able to reach her until Wednesday. She was first suspected of being kept as a pet, and so the Environmental Police's Large Animal Response Team executed a search warrant on the property to remove her--but authorities later learned that the property owner had no idea she was there, as she had slipped in through a hole in a fence.

"The homeowner didn't even realize that he had a new tenant on his property," said Major Bill Billotta of the Massachusetts Environmental Police. "The female deer wandered in and was living quite comfortably."

She was apparently bonding--and sharing food--with the homeowner's goat.

"It was free food for the deer," said Major Billotta.

Despite the cushy deal the deer had, Major Billotta said he's pretty sure the woods are a much better place for her, and explained why she had to go.

"We want to protect the public, with public health and safety, and of course the wildlife too, give them a chance to be in their natural habitat," said Billotta.

With help from the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, the Large Animal Response Team was able to tranquilize the deer. They drove her to a wooded area on the North Shore, waited for her to wake up, and released her.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Karen Twomey reports

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• East Boston