Disastrous Deer Break In Costs Thousands in Damages

Occurred on May 29, 2015 / Chicago, Illinois, USA

Info from Licensor: "I was home alone when I heard a large crash, glass breaking and running around downstairs. I immediately called the police thinking we were being robbed. The neighbors came to our front window and pointed to the back door making a deer rack motion with their arms. I looked down and saw a deer trying to get through the sliding glass door. It stayed there for over 10 minutes slipping, jumping upwards, and pushing its head and large body against the glass. When the cops came they moved the table, opened the back door and put chairs in front of their bodies to try to get the animal out. I heard a lot of yelling and banging from upstairs and was on the phone with my husband as he tried to calm me down on his way home from work. The deer quickly ran around the rest of the main floor running into walls and even trying to get up the fireplace. It jumped out the front window and sat up in the neighbor's yard calmly as the whole town watched. Animal control euthanized the deer to end its suffering since it lost so much blood in our home. In its path it left an estimated $38,000 in damages. Our insurance agent from State Farm quickly came out to assess the damages. He lined up Chicago Fire Restoration to clean everything. The clean up crew came in hazmat suits and had to tear out the blood-soaked walls and carpets. They had to dispose of every item that had blood on it. The clean up alone cost around $12,000. We got estimates to fix the walls, paint, refinish the hardwood floors (from all the hoof marks), replace windows, replace doors, etc. We had to replace furniture and items that were broken or contaminated with blood in the kitchen, dining room, living room, game room and family room. It was a nightmare and quite traumatic to witness. I wish I got the deer on video but at the time I was on the phone with my husband telling him what was going on in the house and trying to calm down. It all happened so fast. Now we have cameras in the house but hopefully something like this never happens again! Grateful for everyone that helped, for the police, the people from the town and our insurance company. I hope this never happens to anyone else!"