An Oak Bay resident's dog died after it was impaled by a buck, prompting police to remind residents to give wildlife space, especially during the fall rut.
The dog was in the yard of the family home in the 800-block of Newport Avenue on Oct. 30 when a male deer, which had been eating vegetation on the property “bucked” the dog, spearing it in the chest area with its antlers.
The dog, a 15-year-old deaf husky/shepherd cross, had been walking along the perimeter of the property and approached the deer while the deer was eating vegetation. The deer then lowered its head and tossed the dog, the Oak Bay Police Department said in a news release.
"The deer then ran off. No distinguishing markings or identifiers available and several different deer have been known to hang out in the area," Sgt. Kevin Diachina said in an emailed statement to Oak Bay News.
The dog was severely injured and was taken to a veterinary clinic and euthanized after the assessment of the injuries, which included a 3-to-4-inch puncture to the dog’s chest.
Conservation and animal control services have been notified.
Every fall, conservation officers deal with rutting incidents in urban areas as the bucks become overly focused on one thing – procreation. Police urge residents to report any aggressive animals upon the encounter.
The Urban Wildlife Stewardship Society offers tips for handling rutting season at uwss.ca. Reports of deer believed to be dangerous or in danger can be made to B.C. Conservation at 1-877-952-RAPP or by texting #7277.
