Posted on 10/13/2009 7:35:44 PM PDT by Chet 99
FLORISSANT, Colo. -- A 63-year-old woman trying to pet a male mule deer, or buck, was gored by it near Florissant on Monday, the Department of Wildlife said.
Joan Nutt was at her sister's home at 893 County Road 31, around 5 p.m., when the attack occurred.
Nutt was transported to the Pikes Peak Regional Medical Center in Woodland Park where she was treated for large cuts caused by the buck's antlers and hooves. Most injuries were to her elbow and lower arm, but she also had cuts and bruises on her hands, upper leg, stomach, and hip, the DOW said. Click here to find out more!
Nutt's sister's family said they were familiar with the buck, which was a frequent visitor to their property.
Nutt said she had gone out in the yard to call the deer so she could pet it. When the deer got close it lowered its head and charged at her, she said.
She grabbed hold of an antler to try to fend it off, but it knocked her down before she could run away.
A driver on County Road 31 spotted the deer stomping her and stopped to help. The passer-by was able to scare the deer off and contact the Teller County Sheriff's Office.
When medical services arrived, they reported the buck continued to come back to the area while they were tending to the woman.
"We had to constantly harass it away from us," one of the paramedics said.
A Teller County Sheriff's deputy reported the young buck with a broken left antler remained on scene while DOW officers were en route.
When DOW officer Aaron Flohrs arrived, he said the deer walked within a few feet of him. Given what the buck had done to the woman, Flohrs prepared to defend himself and the buck backed away.
"There was no direct evidence Nutt was feeding the animal, but this deer's behavior was a clear indication that someone in the area had tried to domesticate a wild deer and treat it as a pet," said Flohrs.
The deer was tranquilized and later euthanized because it was deemed a threat to human safety. It was sent to the DOW wildlife health lab in Fort Collins for examination.
"No matter how many times authorities warn people about the dangers of feeding wildlife, some well intentioned people do it, and end up getting injured when the animal turns on them," said Shaun Deeney of the DOW. "In this case, Mrs. Nutt was very fortunate a Good Samaritan stopped by to help her. A large buck deer can severely injure, or even worse, kill a person in a few seconds."
"While habituated deer can appear docile, these big game animals are extremely powerful. In almost every case when people try to 'help' wildlife and feed them, it always turns out bad for the animal," said Deeney.
Nutt's brother-in-law, Ervin Stohl, told the DOW this particular buck came to their house every afternoon. He said there is usually a bunch of females nearby.
"There were no does today and the buck was angry," Stohl said Monday.
"Wild animals are not pets, and do not experience feelings of 'friendliness' towards people," Deeney explained.
They will accept food and tolerate humans, but they never actually bond with humans.
"No matter how docile they appear, there is always a threat they will turn on someone."
Wildlife professionals warn that deer or elk can be dangerous anytime, but the males are extremely dangerous when the mating season approaches.
Every year, there are cases of people being injured by deer in the United States.
In September, a 47-year-old woman was injured when she was attacked by an elk near Evergreen, Colo. She spent several days in the hospital with a broken pelvis. The elk involved in the incident could not be located.
Please, idiots, be sure to pet the wild animals.
We need to get rid of as many 0bama voters as possible.
We’ve all been gored by Gore, so she should have known better IMO.
There is so much irony in this lady’s name.
Rutting season? Buck can get downright aggressive. Much more likely than an attempt at domestication.
"Shut up or I'll Gore you too!"
Fluffy the dear vs. dufus.
Bumper sticker seen when the first of the Californicators started arriving in the early '90s:
At least the Texans went home after ski season
What exactly did he do wrong?
“The deer was tranquilized and later euthanized because it was deemed a threat to human safety. It was sent to the DOW wildlife health lab in Fort Collins for examination.”
The sad part of this story. No sympathy for a dumb-dumb who tries to pet a wild animal (not even a cute one). But it’s sad the animal had to be destroyed, even though the wildlife officers really had no other choice after the creature became aggressive.
Some days, I feel like that.
he did not run upon encountering a stupid human. reminds me of the idiots who tormented a tiger, who managed to escape and chase them, seeking its rightful revenge. The tiger was shot and killed by zoo officials.
Cityfolk and suburbia can be so clueless with nature.
I’d be willing to bet somebody could sell this woman a hunting rifle about now.....
There’s a lesson here somewhere...
Don’t gore me bro!
Shoot him. Then eat him.
This guy is a rare voice for common sense. he should be broadcast regularly on all public TV and other "educational" venues.
/johnny
Deer Jerky anyone?
Buddy of mine shoots them with a BB gun a couple of times a week when he sees them in the yard eating shrubs.
good point
He looks so much like Kirstie Alley in that photo....
Yeah - then she’d hold the rifle wrong-end out, pull the trigger and finish the job the buck started.
One thing these wildlife experts often fail to tell people while they are busy harping on not feeding them is that bucks in the rut also respond boldly to more than just doe hormones. Human ‘does’ also issue markers a buck can detect, however unintentionally.
The ladys name suits her.
good one..........idiots think deer are bambi, thats a fantasy, jerks...Smoky Bear thinks of you as dinner...as do polar bears and tigers in zoo’s....yep, bet those that could voted Obama....
A NYC story (1/8,000,000,00)
I had arrived in NYC looking for work. The old buddy I was staying with suggested a tour of the Bronx Zoo. At the Siberian tiger’s cage three hispanic youts were teasing the tiger, throwing lit cigarettes at it. The tiger turned his back to them, lapped up a few quarts of water when my buddy pulled me back and to the left and said watch this. The tiger looked over his shoulder, got the range and sprayed the little bastards but good. Apparently this tiger was known to react this way. Zoo keepers could be heard laughing from the corner of the building.
I guess the bucks are having a hard time this year...there was another story about a kid that was attacked in another state! Makes me rethink my long walk I take everyday! Of course I do have some “protection” with me and it isn’t pepper spray either.
Good comparison.
Reminds me of the Planet of the Apes, where humans were persecuting for being human.
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