November 15, 2006

Harrisburg, PA - Pennsylvania Game Commission officials are investigating the apparently unprovoked attack by a male white-tailed deer on two residents that occurred early today, Nov. 15, in Clintondale, Clinton County.

The incident on Fishing Creek Road began when a woman attempted to go into her backyard to feed cats, and a buck that was standing at her backdoor would not let her out of the house. Alerted to the situation, a man exited the house to attempt to chase the deer away and, without warning, the buck repeatedly charged and gored him.

The woman contacted the Pennsylvania State Police Lamar Barracks at 7:40 a.m., and Cpl. Todd A. Brian and Trooper Stephen E. Wilcox immediately responded to the scene and found the deer attacking the woman, who had entered the backyard in an attempt to chase the deer away from attacking the man. Unable to get a clean shot at the deer, Cpl. Brian grabbed the deer by its antlers and wrestled it away from the woman, and then both officers fired shots to put it down.

After the Game Commission was contacted at 7:42 a.m., Clinton County WCO Kenneth Packard arrived at the scene and took possession of the carcass for transport to Dr. Walter Cottrell, Game Commission wildlife veterinarian headquartered at Penn State University, who will conduct a full necropsy of the animal.

"While this appears to be a healthy deer, we have taken samples of the deer to conduct various tests for any sign of disease, including chronic wasting disease and rabies," Dr. Cottrell said. He noted that, each year, the agency receives reports of one or two deer infected with rabies, to which all mammals are susceptible.

Another likely cause, according to WCO Packard, is that deer are in the midst of the rut, which is the fall mating season, and for whatever reason, the buck chose to spar with these people. That is not behavior normally associated with wild deer, as they almost invariably keep their distance from people.

"There is no doubt in my mind that the immediate response and action of Cpl. Brian and Trooper Wilcox saved the lives of the two victims," said Game Commission Northcentral Region Law Enforcement Supervisor Warren "Quig" Stump. "WCO Packard will begin his investigation into the incident, and will await results of the necropsy from Dr. Cottrell."