CPW reports deer attack on dogs and pregnant woman in El Paso County

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) can affect white-tailed deer and other deer species within the deer family. (Getty Images)

DENVER (KDVR) — An aggressive doe was shot and killed Friday night after she stepped on a person’s dogs and attacked a pregnant woman, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

The agency reported that a pregnant woman heard screams coming from her fenced-in backyard in an area of ​​unincorporated El Paso County, northwest of Colorado Springs, and found her two dogs “being trampled by a deer.” The woman reportedly tried to scare the deer away, but instead it turned and attacked her.

CPW said at that point, the woman’s father came outside and shot the deer with rubber bullets that CPW had previously provided as bear deterrents. The bullets are classified as non-lethal ammunition for use against bears, but the deer “ignored the shots and continued charging toward the woman as she attempted to flee, so her father shot the deer.”

A fawn, believed to be the doe’s young, was subsequently found nearby and taken to a wildlife rehabilitation center. According to CPW, the fawn will be raised there and released back into the wild.

The use of deadly force to protect human health from wildlife is legal in Colorado. CPW has investigated the incident and will not issue a charge for this incident.

“Deer, elk and moose can become aggressive in late spring and early summer when their young are just born and defenseless,” said Tim Kroening, CPW’s area wildlife manager for the Pikes Peak region, in a news release. “Most aggressive behaviors exhibited by these animals have something to do with a dog, which they view as a predator and a threat to their young.”

CPW has been raising awareness about the dangers of aggressive deer, moose and elk during the spring and early summer calving season since a moose attacked an 8-year-old girl who was biking in an Estes Park neighborhood. The 8-year-old girl was the first girl attacked this year, but two more moose attacks have been reported in Estes Park since then. All cases involved moose mothers protecting their defenseless young.

“Fortunately, no one was injured,” Kroening said in the CPW news release. “This incident is a reminder to be aware of wildlife and keep a watchful eye on children and pets.”

CPW asks citizens to teach their children to avoid wildlife and points out that mother deer leave their fawns in the same spot for hours while they search for food.

To report a baby animal you believe has been abandoned, contact your local wildlife agency so CPW staff can assess the situation.