A 67-year-old woman from Silver Cliff, Colorado, was gored by a mule deer buck just outside of her house Saturday. The deer attack resulted in the 67-year-old suffering a puncture wound and major bruising on her legs.
According to a Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) press release, the goring incident occurred in Silver Cliff, Colorado, which is a small town with a population of roughly 600 people.
“The victim told CPW officers that she was attacked by a small buck mule deer after leaving the front door of her home,” the press release stated. “The buck was described as having two spikes on each antler.”
The CPW explained that the unidentified woman was able to get back inside her house and contact her husband for help. The 67-year-old was ultimately transported to a hospital in Pueblo, Colorado, for medical assistance.
According to the CPW, the woman suffered a puncture wound in her left leg and sustained “significant bruising” on her right leg. A photo posted on X, formerly Twitter, by the CPW shows the graphic nature of the woman’s injuries caused by the mule deer buck.
After the attack involving the 67-year-old woman, two young bucks were observed sparring on the woman’s lawn, according to the CPW’s press release. The CPW noted that sparring is a “common behavior” observed during mating season.
“A wildlife officer went to investigate and found a bird feeder in the yard,” Mike Brown, CPW Area Wildlife Manager in the region, said. “The victim told a CPW officer that she feeds birds and had thrown out bread earlier that day.”
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The CPW’s press release claimed that prior to the incident, there had not been any recent reports of “aggressive deer” in the Silver Cliff region. Brown suggested that the attack’s close proximity to a house could be an indication that someone had been feeding the deer, resulting in the deer losing its natural fear of humans.
“I believe this is a good example of what happens when deer lose their natural fear of humans,” Brown stated. “They become aggressive and dangerous. This is a good reminder that wild animals should always be treated as such and that people need to give wildlife the space they need. We’re glad this woman wasn’t more seriously injured.”
According to the press release, CPW officers are currently searching for the mule deer buck. The CPW noted that the mule deer buck will be euthanized if it is found in order to prevent “future attacks” against other people.
