Unusually aggressive mule deer in Sisters

The sheriff's office in Sisters has recently received a surge of calls about deer aggression.

Every spring, mule deer does give birth to fawns in Sisters Country. And every spring these does are very protective of their young, so protective that many become aggressive toward any animal they see as a threat.

And that includes dogs, any size dog for that matter. A doe doesn't care if your furry friend is a Rottweiler or a toy poodle.

The doe doesn't care if you and your pooch are out for a quiet walk after dinner and are ignoring her from 50 feet away. If she feels that her fawns are threatened - even though they are hidden a block away - she will charge you and your dog.

Be extremely cautious when walking your dog and have him on a leash at all times. Don't think that because your dog is protective of you and that he weighs 90 pounds he'll survive a doe attack. Not only does a doe outweigh him, her sharp hoofs are a powerful weapon.

"About a week or two ago, we began getting calls about a doe that has been unusually aggressive and charging at people out with their dogs," a Sisters deputy said. "It could be because the doe not only recently had fawns, but could have been hurt or has a wound. It seems she was first spotted by the Sisters City Hall and then near Sisters Athletic Club, on the outskirts of Creekside Park."

These incidents are a reminder to Sisters residents that urban deer can be very dangerous.

"I don't think that people understand that the key is to stop feeding the deer once and for all, and in the long run they may move further into the wilderness where they belong," said wildlife biologist Randy Lewis of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Deer become habituated to the presence of humans, and they lose their natural wariness of people. Sisters recently adopted a new ordinance prohibiting feeding mule deer. Violation carries a fine.

"These does will continue to be aggressive for a couple more weeks, so please use caution," Lewis said. "You may carry an air horn; they are loud and it stuns them for a second. You can also carry a super-soaker that sprays water or even pepper spray if you think it's going to be a serious attack. One thing I would suggest is to avoid any area where you faced an aggressive mule deer."

Deer have also jumped low fences to get into residents' yards seeking food such as flowering plants and shrubs. If you have a dog that stays in the yard, keep a close watch on him. Deer have attacked small dogs while in a yard searching for food.