An Unusually Calm Deer Stuck Around With Beachgoers On Lake Michigan

Jul 15, 2019 by apost team

You don’t normally expect to see wildlife when you are at the beach. Sure, you may see some fish swim close to shore, but who expects to see a calm deer meandering about? That is exactly what happened in Saugatuck, Michigan.

Kathleen Kennedy Ferris was enjoying the day at Saugatuck Dunes State Park when she and her family noticed the deer. At first, they thought it was just a big dog. However, everyone quickly realized that it was actually a younger deer hanging out at the beach. Ferris talked to the Detroit Free Press about the reaction of the beachgoers, saying absolutely everyone was shocked to see the deer there.

Although the beach was packed, the deer did not seem bothered at all. He quietly walked through the sand and water for about 30 minutes as swimmers and sunbathers looked on. Soon after, videos and photos of the calm deer began to pop up all over Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat.

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One girl wrote that the deer even licked the leg of a little girl and went through a beach bag looking for snacks. She wondered if the local fireworks had brought the deer out from the nearby woods.

You can see an amazing close-up that beachgoer Aubrey Trapp posted to her Instagram story:

People were obviously very captivated by the deer who stood calmly by the edge of the water. Some people were even comfortable enough to pet the deer. However, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources warned the public that it was a good idea to keep their distance. The DNR released a statement saying that they would monitor the deer to see if it starts to exhibit aggressive behavior. If it does, they will likely immobilize and relocate the animal. At the moment, they ask that park visitors refrain from interacting with the deer.

It’s definitely unusual for a deer to act this way around humans. They usually either freeze in place or run when they see people. This beautiful buck did neither. You’ll still find his gorgeous picture all over the internet. Maybe he just wanted to stand in the water on such a hot day, or maybe he enjoys being around people. We guess we will never know the thoughts on this cute little buck.

Have you ever seen a deer act this way? Or experienced something similar with any other wild animal? Leave us a comment and be sure to pass this cute story along to brighten somebody else's day.