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.
We had a herd of 20-25 in the woods close by our house. It was impossible to do any gardening.
There were enough complaints that somebody came out and did something. Nobody seems to know who “somebody” was or what they did. But the herd is down to three or four now. I’m sure in a year or two we will be back to a full strength here. One neighbor who is always in the know about these things is rather cagey; he says they provided some good meals to the poor.
We have a couple of neighbors who think they are cute and like to feed the beasts in the winter, too. How nice of them.
Lyme?
Really?
that's Racist against all Lymons!
/s
Exactly! Fawns are about 3-4 weeks old right now. This story is nothing more than a momma protecting her young.
All wild animals will act that way when threatened, it’s just their nature. The guy apparently thought they were pets, like his dogs. There’s a reason they are called “wild animals”.
Not deer but the most scared I’ve ever been was when I ran across a troop of macaques (baboons) in a Hong Kong country park.
Some weird British colonial administrator imported them to Hong Kong in the 19th century supposedly to control some other plant or animal. The things are everywhere in the New Territories and they are very aggressive. You can’t hike in some of the parks with food because they’ll steal it. Literally they’ll take your backpack off your back and rip it to shreds looking for food. God forbid you have a baby in a stroller!
Anyway, I was jogging in Pineapple Cove park. I had my HK ID card, enough cash for the bus home and a coke, and a bottle of water. I’d seen the signs at the entrance, with pictures of the bites the beast can give and never bothered them, and made a point to not carry food. I came around a blind curve and there was a whole troop of macaques (About 15) fighting over the carcass of a roast duck. I guess they’d stolen it from whoever was in front of me. I surprised them. I stopped. I didn’t want to run away, I was afraid they’d chase me, but it was obvious I couldn’t stay either. So, trying to not0 look afraid, I began to slowly back up. I realized, in a sudden flash of insight why everyone else on this trail had a big stick and often a dog with them. The macaques started snarling and fanning out in a 1/2 circle as I backed. They were going to surround me. I can’t think of many ways to die more awful than to be eaten by baboons!
Luckily a couple I’d passed came up the trail behind me. When it ceased to be 15 macaques versus one unarmed human and became a tall Australian woman with a bamboo stick, her Chinese husband with an aluminum walking stick, a large collie, and an unarmed human who didn’t appear afraid the macaques retreated to the trees.
From then on, I was an urban jogger.
When I was thirteen I was traipsing through the fields between our subdivision and the next one over. I accidentally flushed a couple of pheasants; one flew straight toward the nearest house and smacked right into their big picture window! My friend and I got scared and took off running. That night my dad got a call from the neighbor saying I had thrown a rock through their window! I guess the bird was just stunned and flew off. Fortunately Dad believed me.
From a rabid skunk or raccoon that just b it you.
So you have both Lyme and rabies, maybe a infection too.
Then as you head home, you encounter aa rattlesnake who bites you.
The ruckus alerts a nearby mother bear with cubs who rips you to shreds, but leaves you to recover from your wounds, snake bite, rabies and Lyme disease.
They got way too close to a hidden fawn, or two.
Most likely the useless, stupid ankle biting yappers. The only dog I would have is one that could rip the throat out of a home invader..........
My dog of choice is a German Shepherd........
In an urban environment they become acclimated to humans, but in the wild, if you’re visible 30-40 yards is about as close as you can get. Three feet, they’re either acclimated to humans, sick, or this time of year have a fawn stashed in the brush nearby which they will defend. The latter two not good.
Me too, have two.
then you need to get real dogs.....
You ran into a member of Deer Lives Matter.
Love is in the air...
Such is the ilk of those flooding into the Flathead.
“Kellyn” has to be a perversion of Karen.
Has to be!
I envy you.....If I had property or a very big yard, I would have two also.........
Unfortunately I'm stuck with just a cat........
Just give the deer my coffee.
It’ll be fiiiiine.
Do you smell like deer pee. :)
Turkeys run like hell. No worries there.
That’s scary. Baboons can tear you apart and are just aggressive by their nature.
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