Woman Receives Minor Injuries in Deer Attack Near Woodburn

Police and state wildlife officials are reminding the public to keep deer and other wildlife wild – do not approach or feed wild animals.

This girl was attacked over the past summer by the deer she is petting Photo by: Kevin Hays

(WOODBURN) - An Aurora-area woman was injured Thursday morning in an unusual incident in which she was attacked by a deer while retrieving mail along Highway 214 near Woodburn. The woman was treated and released at a local hospital.

The deer has not been located.

At approximately 9:30 AM, 58-year-old Annie Saunders, from Aurora, was at work at Sunwest Spas located at 13201 Highway 214 near Woodburn.

Saunders went outside to get the mail and spotted a deer across the highway.

According to Oregon State Police Trooper Andrew Goffrier the deer began walking towards her when it suddenly put its head down and attacked, knocking her to the ground as it continued its attack.

Two men in a passing pickup stopped and were able to get the deer off her. The deer is an adult buck with a spike (unbranched antlers) on the left side and fork antler on the right side. After the attack, the deer was seen headed towards a brushy area on Monitor Road.

Saunders received gouge and puncture wounds to her leg and stomach.

She was able to drive herself to Silverton Hospital where she was treated and released.

Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife Division and Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife are warning area residents to watch for this deer and if seen, to contact either agency as soon as possible.

While it is not clear if the buck involved in the incident was tame or wild, Rick Boatner, assistant district biologist for ODFW, noted that such incidents are much more common with animals that have been raised by or grown accustomed to humans.

"We are entering the breeding season, when deer can act more aggressively," Boatner added.