The Chinese Embassy in Ottawa is working with RCMP and the Department of Foreign Affairs to try to figure out how to safely remove a wild deer that has been living within the embassy gates for about two weeks.

Officials said the frightened animal leapt through the gates as they were closing them last month, and has remained on the embassy grounds ever since.

Staff have been bringing the animal food and water, and said the bushes and berries at the embassy grounds appear to have made the deer feel at home.

But the guest has been skittish and hard to spot, according to embassy staff.

"The deer is very scared by the person. You cannot get close to the deer," one staff member said. "When I drive by, I get close to the deer and stop the car. When the deer sees I am observing the deer, he or she runs away."

The Chinese embassy grounds are technically Chinese territory, so the property is not within the jurisdiction of Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources.

Embassy officials have been consulting the RCMP and foreign affairs for help to rescue the animal and bring it back to the wild.