Every spring the same reminders are issued to the public about safety around animals with babies. We are told not to touch or move little ones and to be cautious with dogs while walking. Often times though, people forget that these warnings don’t just apply in the wild.
Earlier this week an elderly woman was walking her dogs within the city limits of a town in Northern Colorado when she was brutally attacked by a doe with twin fawns.
CPW RELEASED THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT:
Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers are investigating a wildlife attack in the northwest community of Craig this evening.
At approximately 4:30 this afternoon, CPW say a mule deer doe with two fawns attacked and injured an 85-year-old woman as the woman walked her dog within city limits. According to the officers, the woman has been transported to Craig Hospital with what are described as serious injuries.
Officers believe the woman and her dog surprised the animal, leading to an unusually aggressive response by the doe.
Doe attacks are rare but wildlife officers say they can happen and they can be serious, especially when the animal is rearing her young.
At approximately 8 p.m., CPW officers located and captured the doe and her fawns. In accordance with agency policy and due to the doe’s extremely aggressive behavior, CPW will put the animal down to protect public safety. The fawns will be taken to a local rehabilitation facility. The doe’s carcass will be taken to CPW’s Wildlife Health Lab for a full necropsy.
Wildlife officers say Craig has a large resident mule deer population. They warn residents about the dangers of approaching any wildlife, especially females with offspring.
The original release can be read here.
This is the second report this year from Colorado of aggressive ungulates inside city limits being put down. Does more need to be done about urban populations?
