No rabies. It looks like the deer just may have had anger management issues....
Deer that attacked couple not diseased
Monday, November 20, 2006
By Lillian Thomas, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The buck that attacked a Clinton County couple last week was not suffering from any disease or physical abnormality, a Pennsylvania Game Commission veterinarian has determined.
Linda Yost and Frank Rishel of Lamar were injured Wednesday when they were attacked and repeatedly gored by a six-point buck in their back yard. Both victims were released from the hospital over the weekend.
A necropsy done on the a 1 1/2-year-old deer -- which was put down by state troopers called to the scene -- indicated that it did not have rabies, chronic wasting disease or any other physical problem, said Quig Stump, Northcentral Region Law Enforcement supervisor for the game commission.
Dr. Walter Cottrell, a game commission wildlife veterinarian, performed the necropsy at the commission's Penn State facility.
"The buck was in extremely good condition," said Mr. Stump. "There was nothing physically wrong with it."
Investigators do not believe the victims did anything to contribute to the attack, Mr. Stump said. He said the game commission will continue to pursue the case, and that it seems to be a behavioral, rather than a physical problem with the deer.