Saanich Pound and Saanich Police are urging people walking dogs to be aware that deer (particularly does) they encounter at this time of year may have small fawns hidden nearby, and may react aggressively to the presence of dogs and their owners.
At approximately noon Sunday, a man contacted Saanich Police to report he was the subject of an unprovoked deer attack. The man was walking his small dog on Borden Street when he was accosted by a doe. The deer actively pursued him and his dog through the area, and even followed him up onto a residential property where the male took refuge on a porch. The doe followed him up onto the porch.
This has to stop. In #YYJ and #OakBay numbers are out of control. My dog was killed in my yard last year by a buck. #RIPOllie #childnext https://t.co/sOWXozC5cT
— Heather Holmes (@heather4OakBay) June 5, 2017
Neither the man nor his dog were injured in this incident.
Saanich Police received a second call relating to an aggressive deer at 1:35 p.m. A resident was playing in his Gordon Head yard with his dog when a deer entered the yard and tried to attack his dog. The resident had to get a baseball bat as the deer came back three times onto the property.
Police say such encounters may represent an actual physical threat to people and their dogs. While deer may seem to be placid and non-threatening, police are urging residents to keep in mind they are still wild animals, and by instinct may forcefully and aggressively defend their young against perceived threats.