In the spring of 2023, Jeff Letendre from Montreal, Canada, encountered an orphan fawn and named it Fairy. This marked the beginning of an astonishing modern-day fairy tale that continues to unfold to this day.
At 45 years old, Mr. Letendre told The Epoch Times, “This fawn is my forest fairy. To be able to get close to such a wild and magnificent animal is truly magical! I feel very fortunate.”
Mr. Letendre runs a technology company called Virtual Front Desk and revealed that the fawn Fairy is now almost fully grown. It is a free spirit, coming and going as it pleases, but still making regular visits to see him.
Their first meeting, according to Mr. Letendre, began with a tragedy. He was on the phone with a friend when he suddenly saw a fawn emerge from the bushes. Initially, he was certain that the fawn’s mother must be nearby. However, after searching for a while without success, he recalled seeing a deer that had been hit by a car on a nearby road. It dawned on him that the fawn had lost its mother.
Mr. Letendre took on the responsibility of caring for the fawn, with the goal not to make it his pet, but to nurture and help it become independent and flourish in the wild.
After months of looking after Fairy, Mr. Letendre found a new mother and deer herd for her, but initially, the adult doe rejected Fairy. Undeterred, Mr. Letendre persisted, and eventually, a new herd that accepted Fairy emerged.
The herd realized that as long as Fairy was around, they could get treats. Thus, the herd eventually accepted Fairy, and she spent the entire winter with them.
As Fairy grew, Mr. Letendre continued to feed and protect her but never attempted to domesticate her. “I have never brought her inside. She has always roamed freely in my backyard. I hope she sleeps near the house, which she does,” he said.
Mr. Letendre expressed his deep love and respect for Fairy, stating, “Even when I groom her, pet her, kiss her, I never try to force her to do something she doesn’t like. So whenever she sees me, she runs to me. She also loves me because she feels comfortable and safe, knowing I respect her boundaries, and her freedom is my primary concern when we are together.”
When asked why he named her Fairy, Mr. Letendre explained, “She is magical to me. Like a creature with enchanting powers, just like a Disney princess from the forest.”
Mr. Letendre has a history of helping wildlife around him, having assisted in rehabilitating raccoons. He said that caring for these animals has given him a new appreciation for nature.
He believes that, like most animals, if you listen to their hearts, don’t try to force them or take away their freedom, they will feel comfortable being around you. Naturally, they will stick to you.
Mr. Letendre’s experiences conversing and communicating with animals have led him to believe they are sentient beings. “If you have a cat or a dog, you will realize you can consciously communicate with your dog, and they typically respond to your communication. They seem to understand the emotions you are trying to convey. Fairy is an example.”
Despite living in the wild, Mr. Letendre still sees Fairy. Recently, she even brought along other deer friends. He hopes that after the upcoming winter, Fairy will become a mother herself, which would bring him comfort.
Mr. Letendre believes that if one discovers injured or orphaned animals and wishes to help them, handing them over to local authorities may not always be the best option. He acknowledges that not everyone has his experience and resources, as he has been helping animals for some time.
He stated, “I call wildlife rehabilitators, seek guidance online because doing what’s best for the animals is crucial if you don’t know how to help them.”