A Rare Encounter in a Florida Home
St. Johns County Sheriff's deputies responded to a standard call for service on September 7, 2026, that quickly turned into a wildlife rescue operation. Homeowners discovered a large buck inside their bathroom. The situation posed an immediate safety risk to both the residents and the animal.
Body camera footage captured the scene as officers arrived. One deputy entered the home to assess the state of the animal. He stated, "Oh, that's a buck. That's a nice buck," while observing the deer trapped in the confined space. Deputies and the homeowner then collaborated on a strategy to clear a path out of the residence by moving furniture.
The Extraction Process
Removing the animal proved difficult. The deer did not immediately understand the exit route despite the open door. To minimize stress for the buck, the deputy went outside and grabbed an extendable swimming pool brush. He used the tool to gently nudge the animal, steering it toward the sliding glass door.
The deer eventually exited the bathroom with unsteady legs. Once on the patio, the animal did not immediately retreat into the wild. Instead, it leapt into the backyard's in-ground swimming pool. This added an unexpected hurdle for the deputies, who watched as the animal swam briefly before clambering out and finding itself trapped in another section of the fenced yard.
Wildlife Removal and Final Outcome
The animal ultimately found its way out of the pool area a second time. It navigated the remainder of the yard before clearing a fence and disappearing into a nearby wooded area. The situation resolved without injury to the deputies or the residents.
Reflecting on the event, the deputy noted the rarity of the occurrence. "First time I've had a deer in a house in 23 years of my profession," he remarked. The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office later shared the bodycam footage on social media. They characterized the event as a "buck-wild call for service" and quipped that the deer fled before deputies could issue a citation for trespassing.
Incidents involving large mammals wandering into residential areas are not unheard of in Florida. Urban expansion frequently encroaches on natural habitats, leading to increased contact between residents and native wildlife. While most calls involve smaller animals, law enforcement agencies are trained to manage larger, unpredictable creatures when they breach property lines. This case highlights how quickly domestic routines can be disrupted by the local environment. Residents should avoid direct contact with trapped wild animals and contact local authorities to prevent injury.