TOWN OF STEPHENSON (NBC 26) — A rare wildlife incident is under investigation in Marinette County after a deer attacked an elderly married couple in the Town of Stephenson earlier this week.
According to the Marinette County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to a home Tuesday afternoon after reports that a deer “went after” the couple while they were in their yard.
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The husband later died, but authorities say they do not believe his death was directly caused by injuries from the encounter with the deer.
The names of the victims have not been released.
A neighbor who lives across the street from the couple said she was home at the time and noticed emergency activity in the area.
“I was sitting here, and I heard sirens, and then they stopped,” neighbor Sandy Zahorik said. “They were down on the corner and had the road blocked off.”
Direct attacks by deer on people are extremely rare. Wildlife experts say aggression is more likely during the rut, the fall breeding season that typically runs from October through December, when bucks can be more territorial and unpredictable.
“It’s just crazy,” Zahorik said. “Animals are very powerful, and you just don’t know what they’re capable of doing.”
In a statement to NBC26, a spokesperson for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources said;
"Deer attacks are very rare. However, wild animals, even deer, can act unpredictably for a variety of reasons. Our general advice is: When someone encounters a wild animal, they should keep away to reduce stress on the animal and avoid conflicts with it." — DNR Spokesperson
The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities say no additional details are being released at this time.
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ORIGINAL REPORTING:
A Marinette County man has died after he and his wife were attacked by a deer earlier this week.
The Marinette County Sheriff's office said it responded to a call Tuesday afternoon that involved a deer "going after" two elderly people in the Town of Stephenson.
Sheriff Randy Miller confirmed the man later died, but said: "it is believed at this time it was not because of the injuries sustained in the incident."
An update on the woman involved in the incident was not immediately available.
Names of the victims have not been released.
The Marinette County Sheriff’s Office, Marinette County Medical Examiner's Office, and the Wisconsin DNR are investigating.
In response, the Wisconsin DNR released this statement to NBC 26:
"Deer attacks are very rare. However, wild animals, even deer, can act unpredictably for a variety of reasons. Our general advice is: When someone encounters a wild animal, they should keep away to reduce stress on the animal and avoid conflicts with it."
