Deer are naturally elusive creatures and don't typically bother people unless they are threatened or bystanders get too close during the rutting season. They aren't usually too happy if you approach them when they have young, either. Still, that didn't stop one foolish man from squaring off against a deer on a beach. It went about as well as you expect.
Videos by Wide Open Country
Footage of the strange encounter was shared by @touronsofnationalparks on Instagram. The video shows a family at the seaside breaking one of the golden rules of observing wild animals, don't get too close.
It's unclear why the topless man thought getting so close to a wild deer was a smart thing to do. He may have assumed the creature posed no threat as it had no antlers, but any outdoorsman will tell you that deer don't need their spiky appendages to deal damage.
When the man gets too close for comfort, the deer rears up on its hind legs, flailing with its cloven hoofs. The animal impressively balances on two legs and hops forward toward the man, who probably realized he had bitten off more than he could chew. He eventually turns and runs away, but not before tripping over his own feet and into the sand.
The Deer Took The Fight To The Ground
The deer continues to approach the man as he gets up, and another flail knocks him to the ground. Oddly enough, you can hear the family laughing in the background as the man scrambles to get away. The family eventually chases the animal away with a boat oar, but not before it lands a few blows.
On a more serious note, a kick hurts. The only thing bruised in the video appears to be the man's ego, but the encounter could have gone worse. Per the Deer Association, they don't inherently attack humans. Deer can stand on their hind legs and attack with their feet, but the association stresses that encounters like this with humans are exceedingly rare. The post concludes, 'Simply be aware of your surroundings and use a little common sense. Deer are wild animals, after all.'
