The smoke was thick, choking the air as I navigated the mountain road, keeping a close eye on the rapidly spreading forest fire. Suddenly, a doe darted out, planting herself right in front of my patrol vehicle. I slammed on the brakes. She didn’t bolt; instead, she stood her ground, visibly frantic, looking pleadingly at me and then back toward the raging inferno. Trusting my instincts, I knew she needed me to follow.

I abandoned my car and ran after her through the haze. She led me straight to a heavy wire fence where her tiny fawn was trapped on the wrong side, the flames creeping dangerously close. I immediately pulled out my heavy-duty clippers, snapped the wire, and pulled the trembling fawn through. We didn’t waste a single second. I loaded them both right into the front seat of my truck and sped away from the danger zone.

Now, standing in the bright green grass of the sanctuary, watching them peacefully share a meal of fresh vegetables, I can finally breathe easy. It’s moments like this that remind me exactly why I do this job.