Deer Accused Of 'Stalking' People, Stomping Small Dogs

[marmar]

A town in southern Oregon will hold a public meeting to discuss how to deal with droves of fearless deer that wander the streets, occasionally acting aggressively toward residents, state wildlife officials said on Tuesday.

The "Deer Summit 2015" will be chaired on Wednesday by Ashland Mayor John Stromberg as part of efforts to address deer that have stalked people, pawed at them with their hooves and even stomped on small dogs.

"The deer have no fear of humans," said Mark Vargas, District Wildlife Biologist for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The confident deer are a product of a long tradition in the town of 21,000 people of feeding and befriending them, Vargas said. ..................(more)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/deer-ashland-oregon-stalking-people_5603e54ae4b08820d91baed2?utm_hp_ref=weird-news

[NightWatcher]

1. If not for the movie Bambi, deer would be treated like the vermin they are

I'm sure I'll make no friends with this, but I detest deer.

[A HERETIC I AM]

5. Rats with antlers. n/t

[LWolf]

2. There are always deer.

They've been coming in closer and closer since my dog died last winter.

Right now there's a buck who beds down right outside my bedroom window. He's not aggressive, though. He disappears quickly when he sees the light come on in the bedroom window, or when I step outside.

Around here, though, most people aren't "befriending" the deer. Instead, they consider the deer to be a food source, and stock up for the winter every fall.

[NRaleighLiberal]

3. whew. thought this was going to another *us vs them" meta post!

[femmocrat]

4. Do they have the defiant pupil*?

*(reference to "Zoo&quot

[alphafemale]

6. A few years of seeing Bang-Sticks would give them a healthy fear of of humans again

It is rarely a good idea to "tame" something that was born wild.

[pinboy3niner]

7. That explains the signs

[red dog 1]

8. "occasionally acting aggressive toward residents"?

According to the HuffPo article, the only case of "aggression toward residents" was:
"a recent attack on a homeowner by a deer protecting it's fawn"

Deer fencing around one's property is the logical answer to this problem.

[pinboy3niner]

9. Deer Crossing Lady recommends they just put up new signs around the town

Problem solved!

[2naSalit]

10. Get some wolves...

a more natural predator wold help solve the issue. I don't condemn a species for not fearing humans. Demanding that they fear us is pretty species-centric really.

[Tom Kitten]

11. Ashland Needs Baboons!

Once Ashland imports baboons no one will be worrying about the deer anymore...

[pinboy3niner]

12. "However, the monkeys still control the cabana"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018577487

[malthaussen]

13. Wait until they learn to use AR-15s.

Why shouldn't wildlife be allowed to go around armed?

-- Mal