PALM HARBOR – A young deer caught in the Palm Harbor Publix Supermarket, 500 East Lake Road in Palm Harbor Dec. 23 was released into the Brooker Creek Preserve.
The deer was a young male about 75 pounds with small spike antlers, according to a Pinellas County Sheriff’s report. When deputies arrived, they saw that Publix employees had wrangled the deer to an open location between the check-outs and the store aisles. The animal was still struggling as employees tried to hold him down.
Deputies used a store apron to cover the animal’s eyes in an effort to calm him, the report said. The deer’s legs were temporarily secured with duct tape.
The Suncoast Animal League was called and responded to retrieve the animal. The deer was examined and released into the Brooker Creek Preserve.
