Aggressive Deer Gone Rogue in Local Park

May 21, 2015

Question: I had a weird thing happen the other day. I was walking with my dog in a local Monterey park when a doe deer came right up to us. My dog ran out after her and the next thing I knew I heard yelping and looked out to see the doe standing over my 60 lb. dog, kicking it repeatedly. This cannot be normal! Typically, the deer run away from my dog when he chases them. There’s something wrong with this deer. Can you please come get this rogue deer so that it does not threaten other people in our neighborhood? (Spooked in Monterey)

Answer: While this situation may seem unusual, there is probably nothing wrong with this doe. You should be aware that this is fawning season and it sounds like this doe may have had a young fawn or fawns nearby that it was trying to protect. For California black-tailed deer, fawning season runs roughly April through July, and during this time the does can be very protective and will do all they can to defend their young against predators. These deer may view domestic dogs as a threat even if the dog is being walked by the owner on a leash or even in the owner’s backyard. This doe may have viewed your dog as a potential predator and instinctively acted quickly and aggressively to drive it away from the area in order to protect her fawn(s) against this perceived threat. Does that have lost their fear of people may also act aggressively toward humans who wander too close to their fawns. This is a temporary situation and aggressions usually subside once the fawns become more mobile.

Does will hide their fawns in locations away from other does while they go out foraging. This ensures that the fawns imprint on their mothers and not on another doe. In urban or suburban areas, these fawning sites may quite often be in public parks or secluded backyards where plenty of plant life creates protective cover. Once the fawns become strong enough to travel and can keep up with their mother, the doe will lead them back to where she lives. In the interim, it is best for you and other dog owners this time of year to give any deer you encounter a wide berth and keep your dogs on a leash.

Figures ... deal with the deer rather than keep your dog on a leash!

We were just talking about this at GS. People think all deer are like Bambi... until they get trampled.

Deer 1, Dog 0.

Watch out for squirrels too! 

deer= sealions of the land

Venison

Watch out for squirrels too! 

   
       " Oh Dear "

Gangsta squirrel

The deer didn't take my dogs crap. Can you get rid of it? hahaha

No kidding. ..my dog didn't get to chase a deer for fun and now I'm upset....I have an answer for you.........

Years ago a friends mom was walking their shepherd on a trail with a leash a doe came out of nowhere and damn near hooved that dog to death. Same trail she walked 5 days a week.
Those damn monterey deer are just as damn fearless.
I was staying at a house on 12th street in pacific grove 1 block up from lighthouse. Standing out front I heard a clicking coming up the road. Damn doe just walking up the middle of the road. I was amazed