Aggressive deer attacks tourist

[Bsuds]

I say DRAMA QUEEN!!! Come on, does she or the news people have nothing better to say or do. She was not touched by the deer so how can you call this an attack.

As always the media try's to sensationalize so people will read. I take this story as more of a warning for people to beware that any animal will protect it's young. A deer can do a lot of damage to someone with it's hooves.

[Silverstarqueen]

quote="Silverstarqueen"Nature always seeks a balance, people can attempt to temporarily interfere with that balance by killing more cougars, bear, wolves, but then the deer would become more populous. You can try shooting more deer, then people would be complaining the predators are killing more of their own pets. If wolves are driving the cougars into town in order to avoid them, having more hunters in the hills also drives deer or cougar to new areas to avoid them as well. If the wildlife see more hunters, it has been argued that could make them more aggressive when they see people. Another problem that I see is with stricter controls on dogs simply barking on their own property, wildlife are freer to roam people's property. Now dogs have to shut up entirely, aren't allowed to chase wildlife, and the coyotes, cougar and deer have very little to deter them from wandering wherever they please. The orchardist who complained of the deer eating his trees (which I agree would be distressing), could have taken care of that problem with one or two good dogs (unless their neighbor complains about them barking occassionally). Once the deer get the message, they don't come back where they aren't welcome. Same process for coyotes and cougars./quote

None of what you have posted has any basis in reality, unfortunately. Humans are an integral part of the natural balance of both prey and predatory animals.

Hunters do not drive cougars into town. Cougars do not seek open range in lowlands when pursued by hunters - they stick to the thickets on north mountain faces in order to elude humans.

Wildlife do not become more aggressive when they are hunted by humans. On the contrary, wildlife become more secretive to avoid predation by humans, heading for thickets and becoming nocturnal in their movements. In the fight or flight scenario, wildlife chooses flight when dealing with hunters.

Even the biggest grizzly bear has a natural fear of being hunted and killed, and spends his life avoiding situations that endanger him, and constantly checks his backtrail to see if he's being followed. See Dr Valerius Geist.

Coyotes and cougars are opportunists. If there's a meal to be had, they'll take it. If a cougar is in an orchard and a dog comes barking, it will most likely end up bad for the dog, unless that dog is a trained cur or cat hound.

Again, many people tend to abandon the science of wildlife management/interaction and fall back on Disney or emotional reactions when dealing with wild animals.

People ought to spend some time reading about the North American Conservation Model and google up some of Dr Valerius Geist's writings on what is really happening. It would make that chance encounter with a wild animal a much more pleasant experience and broaden their understanding of animal behaviour and population dynamics.

Animal conservation experts notwithstanding, I stand by my claim that dogs deter cougars and coytes from hanging around propterties. I have seen my own dogs "escort" a coyote off the property in broad daylight. And they do deter cougars, who would rather not have my Disney Dogs barking in their face while looking for your chickens or whatever:
a Case in point: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zn-7nbU9xho

[Wally]

I guess we should teach the deer to tell the difference between locals and tourists.

[western_star]

I also wonder why the deer didn't take care of the cat touching its fawn before running after the dog who was still yards away.

I bet it was because the dog looked like a coyote to the deer that is why the deer left the cat and went for the dog. Maybe the deer was chased by a coyote before.

[Fancy]

Doesn't matter to the dog. The owner couldn't intervene even if the dog was on a leash. Incidentally, the deer and cat were familiar to each other.

[western_star]

Doesn't matter to the dog. The owner couldn't intervene even if the dog was on a leash. Incidentally, the deer and cat were familiar to each other.

If the dog was on leash the owner could take the dog away when he noticed the deer being nervous about the dog, and that is what should have happened here especially having a baby around. I seen the deer looking at the dog worried about it before it attacked the dog, that was the deer's warning right there. And this goes for any animal who has a baby, dogs, and horses, included, animals are protective of their young so stay away.

[Fancy]

It was a very small woman walking the dog and the dog was on the sidewalk heading away from what I understand. Everything happened so fast and I'm not going to judge the owner when the dog is feeble and hadn't run in 2 years. Apparently it did run after it got away and collapsed shortly after. You are seeing one aspect of the video - it's possible the dog and owner did not see the deer until it was too late. You make way too many assumptions as noted before.

[Woodenhead]

thread necro, nice one

[western_star]

I just know what I seen ... am I suppose to have ESP?

What I seen was the deer concerned about the cat but kept looking over towards the dog and she finally left the cat and went for the dog.

I seen a deer attack my sister in the park one day when we were little. She was trying to feed it. The front hooves come up and were going to trample her but she backed up quickly and the deer missed her.

[Fancy]

Deer can be aggressive - they are wild animals so treat them with respect and leave them alone.