That is a question I have had to ask myself more than once as I stood face to face with a very intent doe, twice actually, and with two different herds.
During the most recent encounter, I came upon a herd of eight White-tailed Deer foraging. I am familiar with this group of mixed aged does and yearlings and usually they ignore me as I film and photograph from the wooded edge. The largest of the herd paused foraging and began to stare intently in my direction. Sensing her distrust, I stood still as I did not want to interrupt their grazing however, she began to walk towards me. The rest of the herd stayed behind her. I believe this largest of females is the matriarch. She snorted in my direction and then began forcefully stamping the ground with her front hooves, first left then right. It was dusk, I was alone, and I have to admit, a little spooked. Nonetheless I stood there, not wanting to turn my back. I think she was trying to determine if I was a threat. She started to move in closer. Just as I put my camera down there was a sudden crackling noise in the adjacent woods. The rest of the herd began to dash away, but she stayed a few moments longer still, before rejoining the herd and slipping into the woods.
The other time I witnessed this hoof stamping behavior was nearly identical, except it was in a remote field with a much larger herd. But the same thing happened, where the largest female of the herd kept coming closer and closer, pausing periodically to stamp her hooves.
Twice encountering this behavior I came home and Googled. The answer is yes, White-tailed Deer do attack people but it is extremely rare. Mostly, attacks by bucks have been reported. A few incidents with White-tailed Deer does have been reported and they were thought to occur because a fawn may have been tucked nearby and the doe was protecting the fawn. With decreasing habitat available Deer are becoming increasingly habituated to people. Perhaps she was trying to protect her foraging area for her herd. One thing interesting that I noticed was how several times the yearlings came up to the adults and nuzzled them, as if they were looking for reassurance.
I don’t think the doe was going to follow through but she was definitely giving me a warning. Signs to take note of are snorting, ears laid back, and hoof stamping.
Please write if you have ever encountered a deer stamping its hooves (or other similar signs). Thank you!
In the clip you can’t see her hooves as I was zoomed in too close, but you can see her powerful shoulders moving as she stamps the ground.
