Oldest deer Beauty dies aged 27, family says long life was due to “lots and lots of love”
A gorgeous light-brown deer aptly named “Beauty” by the Dancsok family (Canada) in Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, spent her 27 long years as the oldest living deer in captivity taking long walks with her dad Lloyd and chomping on acorns, before sadly passing away this 7 November as a beloved record holder.
The Rocky Mountain Elk “instantly” joined the family in 1998 according to Lloyd, and was verified with the record on 11 July of this year at the age of 27 years and 38 days.
The entire time, she lived on the Dancsok property, even befriending a barn cat named Ginger and taking rides in the family’s car.
“She had a long beautiful life and will be loved and remembered forever,” said Lloyd, her owner and best friend.
The beautiful deer came into the family’s lives just after she was born and her mother rejected her – yet the Dancsoks turned what could’ve been a tragic moment into a memorable experience by welcoming her into their home.
“Not wanting to see this little newborn die, we took Beauty in, having her live in the house for the first few days of her life,” Lloyd said.
“Shortly after this, she was moved to a small building where we built a fence around it allowing her to come and go as she pleased from the building. The fence provided her with a safe and secure area to grow.”
And as Beauty grew older, she never forgot the family who saved her life – bonding with them like a cat or a dog might, showing her affection through loving nuzzles with her nose, and hanging out with them whenever she could.
Lloyd explained that once the fawn outgrew her paddock, she was moved to a larger space, but she was so stressed from the change that the family brought a small camper into the space and they stayed there to be close to her.
“Beauty would lay at the bottom of the stairs every night knowing we were close by,” he said.
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With hundreds of acres of pasture and bush to explore, Beauty would spend her days exploring the nature or laying in her shelter, as well as taking multiple long walks with Lloyd.
Her favourite snacks were organic apples and acorns, and she also enjoyed eating oats, flax, carrots, cucumbers and beet pulp.
“We believe Beauty’s ability to live such a long and prosperous life was due to several major factors,” the family said.
“Growing up and living in such a large area, multiple walks daily with Lloyd, plenty of healthy foods, great local vets, and lots and lots of love.”
They also mentioned that when Beauty was young, she would rule the farm – yet as she grew older, she became much more mellow, bonding easier with men than with women.
Perhaps her best animal friend was a loving barn cat named Ginger, who Lloyd described as her “partner in crime” in her later years.
Ginger and Beauty
“Beauty and Ginger were attached at the hip, spending most of the day together,” he said. “We think this camaraderie is part of the reason for Beauty living so long.”
And even though the family will miss their beloved Beauty, they take comfort in the fact that they shared many great memories with her over her long life.
“One of our favourite memories of Beauty is from when she was young and we would have to take her to the vet,” they said. “We would drive her to the vets in our Volvo sedan, and she loved sitting in the back seat looking out the window as we drove.”
Just imagine that incredible sight – a fawn once abandoned by nature, but accepted into a family nonetheless, staring at the scenery from a car where she knows she’s completely safe.
So rest in peace to this sensational deer, who lived a long and wondrous life thanks to the love from the Dancsoks.
Beauty, you were Officially Amazing.