Manitoba Conservation orders review after pet deer killed at Hutterite colony

WINNIPEG - Manitoba’s conservation minister says it may have been insensitive of wildlife officers to kill a deer at a Hutterite colony as some members who had raised the animal watched in horror.

Gord Mackintosh says he has ordered a review into what happened last week at the Windy Bay Colony in the province’s southwest.

He says it’s important for people to have empathy for living creatures, but they also need to understand that it’s dangerous to take in wild animals.

Colony members found the deer a year ago, shortly after it was born, and named it Bambi.

They say they hand-fed the animal fresh-baked bread and sweet tea and it often played with children and pet dogs.

A colonist concerned that Bambi was growing antlers called the wildlife department and two officers who were sent to the property shot the deer near several homes.