EL PASO COUNTY — Colorado Parks and Wildlife has cited a Black Forest woman after she admitted to taking a days old deer into her home and raising it for more than a year.
The deer, now a young buck with forked antlers, attacked a neighbor as she walked her dog last Friday morning. The woman was gored and suffered serious lacerations to her head, cheek, and legs. She spent a night in the hospital while receiving treatment for her injuries.
CPW said the deer even aggressively approached a wildlife officer who responded to investigate the attack. The officer euthanized the deer and took it to an animal health lab to test it for rabies and other diseases.
CPW cited 73-year-old Tynette Housley with illegal possession of wildlife and illegally feeding wildlife, both misdemeanors. She was also issued a warning for possessing live wildlife without a license after she described keeping it in her home, then garage, and on her property. The two misdemeanors carry fines totaling $1,098.50.
The deer's stomach contents confirmed it was being fed by humans, according to CPW. It's stomach contained out-of-season foods including hay, grain, corn, and possibly potato.
“We can’t say it enough: Wild animals are not pets,” said Frank McGee, CPW’s area wildlife manager for the Pikes Peak region. “Feeding deer habituates them to humans. They lose their fear of humans and that leads to these outcomes that are tragic for both wildlife and people. Injured and orphaned wildlife should be taken to licensed wildlife rehabilitators.”
