Kelowna woman describes frightening deer attack during rutting season
Kelowna, British Columbia. (NEWS 1130) – Rutting season is in full swing, and wild animal activity is on the rise across B.C.
A Kelowna woman is describing her frightening encounter with a buck last weekend.
Nichole Neufeld was walking along a green space near the Glenmore Landfill on Saturday, October 8, when she says a large buck deer with antlers charged at her.
“I was walking along, minding my own business, and I heard something crashing through the bushes, like a large animal coming straight towards me,” Neufeld tells NEWS 1130.
“The buck came out in front of me. I saw it was a big animal with antlers. When it made eye contact with me, it started to come towards me. I knew I had to run.
“I tried to get around it, but it came after me and started to charge, so I ended up having to run away from it,” Neufeld says.
“I was really scared. I ran for my life. I ran as fast as I could. I was heading straight towards Highway 97. I knew there was a median where I could get some cover if I had to.
“Luckily, the deer eventually stopped chasing me. I’m not sure why, but I’m just really glad it did because I was terrified, and I thought it was going to hurt me.”
Neufeld was uninjured in the encounter. She says she’s grateful to have escaped unharmed and wants to warn others to be aware of their surroundings during rutting season.
“I’ve always been aware of the dangers of wildlife, but this has made me even more vigilant,” Neufeld says.
“I can’t stress enough how important it is to be aware of your surroundings, especially during rutting season. If you see a deer, give it plenty of space. Don’t approach it, and don’t try to feed it. Just let it go on its way.”
RUTTING SEASON SAFETY TIPS:
* Be aware of your surroundings and be on the lookout for deer.
* Give deer plenty of space. Do not approach them or try to feed them.
* If you see a deer, make yourself look as large as possible and make loud noises to scare it away.
* If a deer charges at you, run away as fast as you can and try to get to a safe place.
* Do not turn your back on a deer or try to outrun it. Deer can run very fast.
* If you are attacked by a deer, fight back as hard as you can.
* Report any deer attacks to the BC Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-7277.
