Mule deer buck attacks woman on basketball court in Colorado park, officials say

A woman on a basketball court in a park suffered injuries to her arms fending off an attack by a young mule deer buck, Colorado wildlife officials reported.

The woman declined medical care after the encounter at Rio Grande Park in Aspen just after noon Friday, Oct. 13, Colorado Parks & Wildlife said in a news release.

The deer charged her as she tried to back away to give it space after it approached a group of people on the basketball court, officials said.

Wildlife officers who investigated found the woman “did nothing wrong and was just in the wrong place at the wrong time,” the agency said.

Officers located and captured the deer, which showed an “extreme lack of fear of humans,” the agency said. They euthanized the deer because of its unusual and aggressive behavior.

“Deer attacks are rare but can happen, resulting in serious injuries,” officials said. “This incident serves as an important reminder that wild animals should always be treated as such.”

Aspen is about 160 miles southwest of Denver.

This story was originally published October 16, 2023 at 10:28 AM with the headline "Mule deer buck attacks woman on basketball court in Colorado park, officials say."