Wildlife officials say a Colorado man shot and killed a deer as it attacked his pregnant daughter. According to the announcement, the incident happened on June 7 in the family's fenced-in backyard near Colorado Springs.
Officials say the woman, who has not been identified by name, heard screaming, looked outside, and saw a deer stomping on her two dogs. She rushed out to scare the deer away, but it reared up its hind legs and charged toward her.
Then, the woman's father went outside. He shot the deer with rubber buckshot designed as a non-lethal hazing round to deter bears. However, the deer ignored the shots and continued to charge the woman. So he shot and killed the deer with live ammunition.
Officials say it was a legal kill
In a statement, wildlife officials say Colorado law allows the public to use lethal measures against wildlife to protect the health and safety of humans. After an investigation, they determined the father was justified in his actions and did not issue him a citation.
Exactly why the deer attacked, officials say that the officers who responded to the incident found a fawn nearby. They believe the deer was just being protective.
"Deer, elk and moose can become aggressive in the late spring and early summer when their young are first born and defenseless," said Tim Kroening, an area wildlife manager for Colorado Parks & Wildlife. He added that such animals typically direct their aggression toward dogs because they see them as "a predator and threat to their young."
"Thankfully no one was hurt," Kroening said. "This incident serves as a reminder to watch for wildlife and keep a close eye on your children and pets."
With the deer mother dead, wildlife officers relocated the fawn to a wildlife rehabilitation facility where it will be raised and eventually released back into the wild.
This attack is one of a handful reported by the state wildlife agency. The agency said it has seen an "unprecedented" number of attacks this calving season.
How to avoid deer attacks
During calving season, animals like deer, elk, and moose become aggressive as they try to protect their young. To avoid conflict, experts say you should keep your distance from wildlife, especially if they have younglings.
Experts added that if you live in wildlife areas, you should teach your kids to avoid the animals and keep a close eye on them when they're outdoors. They also suggest building a fence taller than six feet and keeping pets on leashes at all times when outside.
