Be Wary of Town Deer

Last year, during June and July, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game received numerous reports of aggressive deer throughout town. In several instances, adult doe mule deer charged towards walkers and threatened to kick or stomp dogs.
This occurs because mule deer have fawns between late May and early June. During the first 6 weeks of their lives, the fawn’s primary survival mechanism is hiding.
Does will hide their fawns for several hours each day while they forage nearby. When humans or dogs unknowingly come too close to a hidden fawn, mule deer does will often become aggressive.
While deer are generally docile, they can cause harm when they are defending their young. Adult does weigh over 100 lbs, and their sharp hooves can cause plenty of damage. They can run faster than you can.
Please remember the following to avoid conflicts with deer during late spring and early summer:

  • Keep your dogs on a leash while walking in town.
  •  Give deer a wide berth, and never approach a deer on purpose
  •   If you find a hidden fawn, move away quickly. Disturbing the fawn can cause aggression by the mother.
  •   Never pick up a deer fawn. It is natural for deer to leave their young alone for extended periods of time. Removing a hidden deer fawn can cause the mother to abandon the area.
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