Deer Fawn Leaves Jimmy Buffett's FL Keys and Relocates to Tampa

Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo is the new home for a two-month old endangered Key deer fawn found abandoned in Big Pine Key in May. 

Named “Sugarloaf” or “Sugar” for short by zoo staff after Sugarloaf Key, the fawn weighed only about 4.8 pounds upon arrival at the zoo in June where she was hand-reared by the veterinary clinic.  Now more than 11 pounds and growing every day, Sugar is settling into her new habitat in the Mason M. and Charles P. Lykes Florida Wildlife Center. 

The fawn was found on May 15 by staff from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) at the National Key Deer Refuge.  She appeared to be alone, less than two days old and in need of medical attention.  USFWS delivered her to Marathon Veterinary Hospital where she received immediate treatment including the necessary removal of her left eye.  Once stable, the decision was made to place her with Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo where she shares an exhibit with three other Key deer and a female whooping crane.  

Upon arrival at the zoo in early June, Sugar received housing and care in the veterinary clinic.  After a few weeks, Sugar was relocated to the Key deer barn and off-holding yard (attached to the exhibit) to begin introductions to the other animals.  Zoo animal care staff reports that she did exceptionally well with the transition, and in addition to four daily milk bottles, she is starting to eat produce and plant material from the wild herbivore diet. 

In the wild, Key deer are found only in the lower Florida Keys.  They are visible throughout Big Pine and No Name Keys, and are scattered on surrounding islands. They are most active at dusk and dawn and take shelter during the heat of the day.  The Key deer are the smallest of the 28 subspecies of Virginia white-tailed deer, averaging 65-80 pounds when full grown.  It is thought that the Key deer population may have reached a low of less than 30 deer in the late 1950s, but numbers have rebounded to approximately 800 today.

Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo is recognized as a state center for Florida species conservation and biodiversity.  The zoo is the only wildlife center in the world where guests can find most of Florida’s endangered native animals. 
 
About Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo
Recognized as the #1 zoo in the U.S. by Child magazine, Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo is a 60 acre zoological garden with 2,200 animals in natural habitats, water play areas, rides and educational shows.  The zoo is operated by the Lowry Park Zoological Society, an independent 501(c)(3) charitable organization committed to excellence in education, recreation, conservation and research.  Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2008, the zoo is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas days) with extended hours on select nights during the summer.  The zoo is located at 1101 W. Sligh Avenue in Tampa, one mile west of I-275 (exit 48).  Parking is free.  Visit LowryParkZoo.com or call (813) 935-8552 for more information.