It was in late June and early July that reports of deer attacking dogs and their owners made the rounds in Peachtree City. Though some social media posts still reference attacks, local Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR) biologist Theron Menken said he expects the reports to diminish now that fawning season is over.
A number of Peachtree City residents recently gave The Citizen their accounts of aggressive deer behavior in their yards or on cart paths. Some on social media continue to note deer attacks on their dogs and cats.
Menken on July 19 said he had received five calls from people in the Peachtree City and Fayetteville areas, reporting that deer had come after their pets.
“Most were resolved quickly,” Menken said, noting that most fawns in the area are born in April and May and are, “not mobile for several weeks. They get around pretty well after the first 30 days.”
That increase in mobility should lead to less agressive behavior by a doe given that the level of protection for the fawn is diminished. Menken said the agressive issues with deer should be expected to diminish as the fawn begins to have to ability to move around more freely.
Peachtree City Police Department spokesperson Odilia Berg on July 19 said the department had received no calls about deer in the past week.
Fayette County Animal Control Director Jerry Collins on July 21 said to his knowledge there had been no recent reports relating to deer behavior.
Fayette County Marshal Harold Myers said he received one call, from a woman in Peachtree City saying a deer had followed her and her dogs for a short time. They walked on and there was no incident, Myers said.
Myers noted that his office is seeing an increase in the coyote population, questioning if that increase in a natural predator might have some bearing on some of the aggressive deer behavior being reported against dogs. Myers said a deer, when taking an aggressive posture, will have its ears pointed back, its hair puffed-up and its head down and turned slightly to the side.
Menken said some of those calling his office said they were able to scare the deer by making loud noises or shooting a BB gun into the air.
That said, Menken reiterated his previous statement that dogs will often incite a confrontation with deer that can trigger a response.
Menken again urged that residents do not feed deer. He said some people may not understand that doing so can alter the behavior of a wild animal, causing a break from the deer’s normal life pattern and emboldening it to manifest new behaviors.
Noting that there is no law prohibiting feeding deer, Menken said, “Bringing it into your yard is a bad idea.”
Residents should also check the back yard before letting pets out, even if the yard is fenced, and should be aware of their surroundings when on cart paths, Menken said. This is especially true in Peachtree City where so much land is designated as greenbelts.
Menken said it is not known how many deer live in Peachtree City. What he does know is that an increase in the amount of greenspace leads to an increase in the deer population.
Menken’s advice was that residents witnessing unusual deer behavior contact him at the DNR Region 4 office at 478-825-6354 during business hours and after hours at 800-241-4113.
Another resource for residents experiencing unusual deer behavior is the Fayette County Marshal’s Office. Marshal Harold Myers said those witnessing unusual behavior should contact his office at 770-320-6070.
