Deer attacks visitor at Jay C. Hormel Nature Center

Visitors to the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center should be on the lookout for an aggressive and potentially sick male white-tailed deer following an attack on a visitor yesterday.

On June 16, an adult visitor was running the trails and encountered the young buck that was acting aggressively. After initially scaring it away, the runner was rammed and pinned under the deer. The runner fought off of the deer which ran away. Then the runner, who sustained minor bruising, reported the incident to Nature Center staff.

After discussing the incident with MN DNR wildlife biologists, Nature Center staff located the deer and contacted the Austin Police Department to destroy it. The buck evaded those efforts and Nature Center staff are working with the Austin Police Department to locate and put down the deer. It is unknown at this time if the deer is still on the Nature Center property.

As is always the case, Jay C. Hormel Nature Center visitors should never approach wildlife and in this circumstance should watch for white-tailed deer and keep their distance. If visitors encounter a deer behaving aggressively or strangely, they should immediately contact the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center at (507) 437-7519 or the law enforcement center after 5:00 pm at (507) 437-9400.