Now I’m wondering if that was safe to do. Do turkeys attack and maul people? Should I be carrying?
Posted on 07/02/2020 1:52:09 PM PDT by SJackson
I can add deer to the list of mammals I eye warily in the backcountry
On a recent hike with friends near Whitefish, a deer emerged from the brush and blankly stared at us like deer often do. But instead of scampering off, like deer often do, it charged. Our group was slow to react. After all, deer are considered passive creatures. They apparently are not.
The two dogs accompanying us didn’t help matters. The deer eyed both of them before deciding which one to attack first. Then the animal gave chase, pounding its hooves just feet from the canines as they barked and ran in circles. The pet owners screamed, but no one listened.
When it appeared the ordeal had ended and the dogs were about to be re-leashed, round two was upon us. The deer again bounced. More barking. More hoof pounding. More screaming. Finally, a member of the group threw a plastic water bottle at the doe, which momentarily stopped the fight. But if animals could talk, I imagine this one would have said, “Is that all you got?”
The dogs were now leashed. But as we slowly continued up the trail, the deer maintained its pursuit at the same pace, daring us to turn around. My pumping adrenaline was mixed with confusion as we continued our out-and-back. The key word here is “back;” we would be returning to this portion of the trail in about an hour’s time.
“There’s no way the deer will still be there!” I shouted, although I had no idea what I was talking about. I hadn’t been that spooked in the woods since running into a moose in Glacier National Park, ironically with the same hiking partners (minus the dogs).
Speaking of the dogs, we kept them leashed as we descended the trail. It didn’t matter. The deer was still there — in the same spot we left it, staring at us. Waiting for us? I again imagined it speaking, saying something like, “Are you really going to do this? Are you really going to come back for more?”
“No” and “no” were our respective answers. We opted for an alternative route and theorized the rest of the way about what had just happened. The doe must be protecting a fawn. The deer hates dogs. The deer is having a really bad day.
Our encounter was by no means unusual. Browse YouTube and you can find a plethora of videos showing deer mauling people. And there are even more news reports of hikers and hunters being injured by the animal. Still, seeing one on a trail or the side of the road rarely strikes fear in anyone. After all, they’re everywhere.
Deer may be the deadliest animal in the United States, but those fatalities almost always involve car accidents, not random attacks. If you encounter one, chances are it will prance away. However, if it doesn’t, perhaps heed this warning.
After our two run-ins, we hiked the rest of the way with rocks in our hands — just in case. My aim isn’t great, so I wondered what good it would do if I really had to throw the thing. Fortunately, we didn’t confront any more animals along the way. Unfortunately, along with bears and moose, I can add deer to the list of mammals I eye warily in the backcountry.
Happy hiking.
“I’m hard pressed to think of any wild animal I’d pet”
Well, squirrels are pretty harmless and about 99.9% rabies free. If they do bite you, though, even by accident, those front teeth feel like a couple of big hypodermic needles stabbing you.
Now I’m wondering if that was safe to do. Do turkeys attack and maul people? Should I be carrying?
That’s why you need a backup rock for the ranger.
A Tom will come after you with tailfan spread, it’ll practically flog you with its wings and can slash you with its claws, don’t mess with the Toms.
Deer can be dangerous. A man down here in Jasper county was killed several years ago by a rutting buck. I’ve also had them run out of the woods and charge my tractor.
Dogs still are, fortunately.
“They’re falling from the sky like sacks of cement!”
Okay, I’ll bite.
What’s the WORST way to get Lyme disease?
Dunno about turkeys, but geese and swans will charge humans, so you might need to be careful around any fowl that large.
A few weeks ago I was walking by dogs by six horses, who they see walking several times a week, for years. No, from the dogs glances, they don’t consider them friends. A younger one came to the fence and gave what I thought was a friendly whinny, my shepard disagreed and responded with some loud growls. Young horse was scared, they all moved, and within what seemed like seconds but was probably 20 or 30 I was facing six horses, shoulder to shoulder, largest on the outside, glaring at us. Throwback to the days of knights. My only thought, will single strand barb wire stop them. We left, they just glared, when we walked by them later everyone was fine. You never know.
LOL - they’re called deer ticks because they hang out on deer, maybe 1000 of them per (poor) animal (at least per a report I saw). Get a bite from one and don’t quickly treat it, it’s a life sentence for Lyme disease.
Our ‘experts’ are too busy trying to solve AIDS to spend any time on infections which decimate millions of people per year (or something close to that).
We have a lot of deer here. The fawns are adorable but they grow up to eat my roses and other plants. Their tastes change year by year...this year they are munching on rhodies, last year they hit the geraniums pretty hard, some years it’s the plum trees (yes they jump up on hind legs and strip the branches).
When our kids were little about 25 years ago, we were on a hike in Yosemite. We were taking a rest and a little chipmunk began pestering us for food. I kept shooing it away (fleas, bites, diseases, etc) but he was persistent. Finally I picked up a small pebble and tossed it at him.
Wouldn’t you know it, I beaned him in the head. He flopped over and went into serious convulsions. All three kids started screaming at me “Dad, look what you’ve done! We have to get him to the hospital! That poor little guy wasn’t hurting anybody! Why would you do that?” My wife was really giving me the stink-eye about now.
After a minute of flopping around, convulsing, and thrashing, he shook it off and walked away, rather wobbly on his feet.
I figure he was a pro soccer or basketball player in a previous life.
My three kids all still hold it against me.
Fortunately this was a flock of three Jennies headed out to their bridge club.
Thanks for the tip on the Toms and Jakes.
Regardless, these rats-with-antlers ate azelia bushes and anything else that wasn't man-made. Worse than that, they'd literally stare at you with a "what's YOUR problem, dude?" look when you yelled at them.
I'd be fine with the state allowing bow season 365 days a year on residential private property to take out this vermin.
Wild turkeys always seem to run, though if they fly they’re like a flying bowling ball gaining altitude at a very slow rate. Domestic geese will charge. Domestic ducks will charge, dogs at least, haven’t see humans. My guess just about anything will. I’ll sure I’m not the only one to be hit on the head by a songbird protecting it’s unseen nest. It’s always good to be armed, just remember if you needed it for the turkey, that’s hunting out of season and possibly illegal discharge depending where you are. For that reason I always carry bear spray, it’ll get most animals attention. Not suggesting that’s the only thing you should carry, but it’s a safer way of dealing with animals in a non life threatening situation.
We have a big problem with deer because no one wants to kill them. Even the natives whose families have lived here for centuries will not kill them!
So we just bought some loud firecrackers to set off. Hope that works. WE WANT A GARDEN!
...and yes! Just yesterday an almost adult deer stood her ground and did not run until I was three feet from her. Thanks for reminding me how dangerous they can be for people and dogs.
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