Posted on 10/20/2005 10:04:16 AM PDT by SmithL
RANCHO SANTA FE, Calif. - A man died after being attacked by a 6-foot-tall deer that he encountered in his back yard, officials said.
Ron Dudek stumbled onto the deer Sept. 25 when he went outside to pick tomatoes. The buck struck him in the face, ripping a hole in his cheek and ramming an antler into his mouth.
Dudek, the 73-year-old president of an electric company, died Monday of his injuries. The Medical Examiners Office said an autopsy revealed that the deer's blow caused a blood clot that went to his lungs and killed him.
"This was a startled deer that tried to get out any way it can and ended up hooking the victim," said Steve Martarano, a spokesman for the state Department of Fish and Game.
The deer will be killed when it is found, he said.
Some neighbors said the buck that gored Dudek had become increasingly bold in recent weeks. While other deer run when people approach, this one stood his ground, they said.
Dudek's widow, Joanne, said she and her husband of 54 years never feed the deer that came into their yard, which offers a panoramic view of a river canyon about 17 miles northwest of San Diego.
"He was my life," she said, looking out on the canyon.
The attack on Dudek was the third violent deer encounter reported in California during the last four weeks, Martarano said.
On Sept. 29, a deer pinned a man against his house and bit a chunk out of his wife's arm in Mendocino County in Northern California.
On Oct. 11, a deer killed one dog and attacked three others in Orinda, near Oakland.
But deer attacks are rare nationwide, said Larry Hawkins, a legislative and public affairs officer for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
A deer killed a 5-year-old boy in 1977 at Yosemite National Park, he said.
I hunted a lot of deer in California and one 6 foot tall is hard to believe. They're real runts out there.
Still, as anyone knows, it's best not to fool with wildlife unless armed. Sounds like this guy didn't have a choice.
"This was a startled deer that tried to get out any way it can and ended up hooking the victim," said Steve Martarano
Pffft. Just about time for the rut. These guys are acting like they don't understand why the aggresive behavior has increased the last couple of weeks.
Truth be known, it was probably a 6 foot illegal immigrant.
A deer dented my car door.
"The deer will be killed when it is found.."
If they still need to find the deer, how do they know the deer was 6 foot tall? They dont get that tall here in Texas!
Good luck with all that.
More like:
The deer will be killed when if it is found, he said.
"He was my life," she said, looking out on the canyon.
Very sad.
California will respond by banning residents from picking tomatoes.
LOL
Deer can be ornery creatures.
I have yet to see a 6 foot deer out here.
Liverpool will need a new goalie!
I'm a six-foot Yes-Dear.
Liverpool will need a new goalie!
A deer pooped in my yard.
The bear knocked over my garbage can.
The cow jumped over the moon.
I am being truthful here. The bear did knock over the garbage cans.
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