Woman mauled to death by deer she helped save and looked after

A woman in the US has been mauled to death by a deer she'd rescued and looked after at her home.

Grandmother Jodi Proger had dedicated the last 12 years of her life to rescuing deer after finding an orphaned fawn whose mother had been hit and killed by a car.

Jodi took the animal in - naming him Wheezer - and cared for him at her home in Stewartsville, Ohio and even referred to the animal as the family's dog in interviews.

The 64-year-old would go on to rescue several more deer over the years, with The Mirror reporting that she had around four others, both male and female, at her property.

On 15 November, Jodi's daughter would raise the alarm after not hearing from her mother and headed over to visit with her husband.

Jodi photographed with Wheezer, who she rescued after his mother was killed (Facebook/Jodi Wheezer Proger)

When they arrived at Jodi's house, they saw a rampaging deer and were unable to reach the grandmother, who was stuck inside the animal enclosure.

Emergency services were also called to the scene, with local Sheriff James Zusack issuing the following statement: "Family members attempted to intervene and dispatch the animal prior to the arrival of law enforcement to reach the victim; however, the animal was ultimately dispatched by responding deputies to ensure scene safety."

Ultimately, first responders were not able to save Jodi's life and she was pronounced dead at the scene. The passionate animal lover, who was licensed to look after deer, is survived by her husband, daughter and three grandchildren.

Following Jodi's death, her daughter Jennifer Bryan has spoken out on social media to clarify several aspects of the case.

Taking to Facebook, Jennifer explained that it was not Wheezer who was responsible for killing her mother, writing: "Wheezer did not kill my mom. He was neutered per the requirements of [Ohio Department of Natural Resources] when she received her permit."

Jodi's daughter has since confirmed Wheezer was not responsible for her death (Facebook/Jodi Wheezer Proger)

She went on to explain that her mother was aware of the risks which came with owning and taking care of deer.

"This is a sad tragedy and we deserve Respect and time to grieve," she added.

Jennifer also explained that Jodi's husband had been in hospital receiving treatment for a workplace injury when the attack occurred and revealed that she had to call her stepfather and reveal the devastating news of her mother's death.

"I then had to call and talk to my stepdad who was in ICU burn unit and tell him his wife was gone," Jennifer explained. "I'm sure you could imagine the heartache that was exchanged as I stood outside screaming and crying for my mother."

An investigation into the cause of Jodi's death is now underway.