Feeding deer is asking for trouble

You people that just have to feed mule deer just don't get it. Mule deer are - and should forever remain - wild animals.

They are capable to doing serious damage to human bodies, especially children. But there are people in and around Sisters who are placing their children in harm's way by encouraging them to feed the "cute little deer" that roam through the yard.

The only reason mule deer are so comfortable and bold wandering around the city limits of Sisters is that people have made pets out of them. No self-respecting mule deer would even want to come to town if they weren't encouraged to do so by salt blocks, hand-outs and "Here, little deersie, come get your goodies…"

That "cute" little buck above, one of three I saw wandering through town the other day as though they owned the place, is a wild, male mule deer. When the deer become adults, they are going to change their personality and become very wild, male mule deer with an attitude and short on patience.

People who teach and encourage their children to feed wild mule deer - or any wild animal - will someday all of a sudden find a completely new personality in their sweet little so-called "pet" and get hurt.

According to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), that's what happened to 11-year-old Amber Staron of Salem, who loved seeing deer "up close and personal" on her aunt and uncle's 70-acre property just outside Waldport. What was a great thrill for Amber, turned to near tragedy when a fawn who had been raised since it was young around adults and kids, went from "pet" to "wild" in the blink of an eye.

The fawn named "Baby" was raised by Amber's aunt and uncle after they found her on the side of the road east of Waldport. And up until last week, it had never attacked anyone. It suddenly went into the attack mode and pinned Amber against a wooden trellis. Amber's dad heard her screaming and saw the fawn on its two hind feet, holding Amber against the trellis, beating her with its front feet.

That, unfortunately, is only one of several wild deer encounters reported to ODFW incidents that have lead to serious conflicts with humans and wild animals.

In Amber's case, she was very lucky, only shaken with minor cuts and scrapes to her back and hands and a big bump on her head.

Being mauled by a so-called "pet" fawn is one thing. What do you think one of those spikes or forked horns could do to a child when the buck goes into the rut? Damage from those sharp antlers will be more than bumps or bruises, I can assure you.

Another scary part of encouraging deer to stay around your home for a handout - and to eat your neighbor's flower and vegetable garden - is that you are also inviting a cougar attack. It is a documented and well-known scientific fact that cougar make a living by eating the flesh of other animals. Mule, black-tailed and other species of deer just happen to be a cougar's favorite foods.

The step from mule deer to child is a very easy one for a cougar to make.

It is only a question of time before a doe protecting her fawn or a buck that doesn't like the way you looked at him will maul someone. It is up to YOU to remove the threat of someone being seriously gored by a mule deer or killed by a cougar that finds a child, hiker or bicycle-rider tastier than a deer. The only way that will happen is for YOU to stop feeding deer and encouraging them to stay in town.

It's one thing to have a bed and breakfast for people, but it is something entirely different to provide food and shelter for wild animals that can do you serious harm. There oughta be a law…