Deer wreaks havoc at Wauconda preschool

A deer jumped through a closed window Thursday at Messiah Lutheran Preschool and Kindergarten in Wauconda and caused considerable damage inside the building, officials said Friday.

Erica Jawnyj, the school's director, said the deer was quite frantic after landing inside the school about 6 p.m. Thursday.

"Poor little guy, he was trying desperately to get out," Jawnyj said, who added they don't know whether the deer was male or female. "Thank the heavens above no children were around."

The deer tore through the building, leaving a trail of blood in its wake. At one point, the deer jumped up on a desk and later crashed through a glass office door.

Jawnyj said the deer eventually managed to get trapped in the entrance lobby. She said a member of the church choir opened an outside door and two members of the school staff entered the lobby from the inside and ushered the deer out.

Jawnyj said the deer was a bit dazed when it left but got out safely.

Though the deer was in the building for only a matter of minutes, it caused what was described as considerable damage. No damage estimate was available.

Jawnyj said church officials had a biohazard cleaning team come through Thursday night to do the initial cleanup and remove most everything that had the deer's blood on it, including cutting out squares of carpet.

"We're going to replace all the carpet in the main lobby, that got the biggest hit," Jawnyj said. "Most of the blood and gore was in that area."

Jawnyj said one of the biggest jobs has been picking up broken glass.

School staff members canceled the open house they planned to host Saturday. The open house events will be rescheduled after Labor Day.