CINCINNATI -- It's rutting season, a time when male deer can act erratically and aggressively -- so much that humans can unknowingly become targets.
That was the case for one Northside man who said he and his dog were attacked by a buck Saturday morning while taking a walk through Parker Woods.
The man's dog, Buddy, needed surgery for his injuries, he wrote on Facebook.
Longtime Northside resident Julia Johanan said she's noticed more and more deer in the area over the past few years.
"It just made me be more aware and be on the lookout for male deer," she said.
Johanan said she's also been following tips on how to avoid a possible attack. Wildlife experts say the goal is to look and act less deer-like, so a buck doesn't mistake you as a possible mate or a threat.
"They don't seem dangerous -- you think of Bambi," Cincinnati Zoo Director Thane Maynard said. "But a great big male deer with a full rack of antlers can be a very dangerous foe."
Deer attacks are not necessarily a common thing, Maynard said. Experts say that doing something like carrying a big umbrella to pop can scare a buck away.
"Attacks from deer on people or even pets are uncommon, but it's an issue if they feel cornered or threatened," Maynard said.
