Alabama man mauled by pet deer, public warned to not keep deer as pets

[Liberal_in_LA]

Alabama man mauled by pet deer, faces charges

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama man was charged with illegally keeping seven deer as pets, including a buck that mauled and partially blinded him, wildlife officials said Friday.

On Oct. 30, Julius Dunsmore entered a fenced pen on his property in Marshall County in the northern part of the state and was attacked by a nine-point buck. Dunsmore said the deer lifted him up on its antlers and carried him 30 feet. One antler punctured his face and severed the optic nerve to an eye. He also suffered puncture wounds in his rib cage, hips and legs.

Dunsmore said he will never again keep deer as pets. His injuries will require several surgeries.

"People need to know that these things are dangerous," he said. "You never know when they are going to turn."

Bucks can become combative during breeding season, normally fighting with each other or even people when the deer are kept in captivity, said Kevin Dodd, the enforcement chief for Alabama's Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division. Female deer, or does, can inflict serious injuries by kicking.


http://www.sfgate.com/news/science/article/Alabama-man-mauled-by-pet-deer-faces-charges-4967936.php

[Bonhomme Richard]

1. I do wildlife photography and I'll tell you…...

that I get nervous when I am close to a buck in the wild. I have seen them charge (not me) and it is much faster than you can imagine.

[NBachers]

3. He can't just open up the fence and let 'em go now

[Link Speed]

4. Idiot...

Rut is late this year.

Anyone who approaches a buck in rut will get what they have coming to them.

[Humanist_Activist]

5. Deer are food, not friends...

[JI7]

6. i didn't know people kept deer as pets

[jberryhill]

7. Some raise them to make a little doe

[Nine]

8. groan

[gopiscrap]

9. or big bucks

[pinboy3niner]

10. It would behoove the jury to hide that

Else we'll never hear the end of jberryhill tooting his own horn about it.

[kestrel91316]

11. I've known deer were dangerous and not appropriate pets since

I was a tot. Same for all other larger wildlife.

My dad was an experienced outdoorsman. He taught us well.

[Eleanors38]

12. Someone needs to read The Yearling.

[hfojvt]

13. is it okay

if it's Prancer?

[Glassunion]

14. That and the cops can come and blow little Bambi's head all over the place.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023399928

[nomorenomore08]

15. Poor guy. Even if he was being stupid.

Losing an eye seems a little too harsh as a life lesson, but shit happens I guess...

[jberryhill]

16. On DU, there is an ethos...

...which holds that the less intelligent deserve punishment.