Woman raised deer, is cited after attack

A young deer raised by a woman in a Black Forest home attacked and gored a neighbor on Friday before the buck was euthanized by a wildlife officer, officials said.

The woman raised the deer for about a year in her home, garage and on her property. The suspect, 73- year- old Tynette Housley, has been cited for illegal possession of wildlife and illegally feeding wildlife, both misdemeanors, according to a Colorado Parks and Wildlife news release.

The attack happened Friday morning when Housley’s neighbor was out walking her dog. The attack lasted several minutes and the victim suffered serious cuts to her head, cheek and legs. She was also bruised and hospitalized overnight.

Housley told investigators she took the deer in as a fawn, according to the release.

The two misdemeanors carry fines and surcharges totaling $ 1,098.

The victim, from her hospital bed, told investigators she was “surprised” to see a deer “following her” and was then “shocked” when it attacked.

The buck knocked the woman to the ground and repeatedly gored her.

The victim fled to her home, opening a garage door and finding safety between two parked cars.

A wildlife officer responded to the scene and encountered the buck, with “fresh blood covering its antlers,” the release said. The officer euthanized the deer and took it to a CPW facility in Fort Collins where a necropsy was performed.

“The deer’s stomach contents confirm it was being fed by humans as it contained out- of- season foods including hay, grain, corn and possibly potato,” the news release said.

The carcass is also being tested for rabies and other disease.

“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.”