WEST SEATTLE DEER: Saturday sightings

| West Seattle news | Wildlife

After making it from Fairmount to Beach Drive on Friday, Westley the West Seattle Deer headed north today. The video above, courtesy of Owen, is from 46th/Massachusetts in North Admiral; that came in after the photo below from 53rd and Andover:

Comments posted today on our Friday story also mentioned Genesee Hill and Schmitz Park sightings.

Recapping our previous coverage – the deer first turned up on Pigeon Point last Sunday night, then headed west into North Delridge on Monday, where it was seen on Nucor property and to the south by Dragonfly Pavilion, near Longfellow Creek. Then on Friday we got word of numerous sightings, some with photos, as reported here.

Unless it is injured or in some other kind of distress, Seattle Animal Shelter says, it is best left alone; a Nucor manager told us he had tried to talk the state Fish and Wildlife Department into coming for it, but they said basically the same thing. Deer are seldom seen in Seattle, and some think this might be the same one seen earlier this fall in Union Bay and then in the Beacon Hill area.

concerned4westley November 5, 2016 (6:50 pm)

I think people should stay away from “Westley” when they see him, this video obviously show us that he gets scared when he see’s a human and I’m afraid one of these times he’ll run out into the street and get hit, hurt so badly that he’ll run off and suffer from the injury with no help or heaven forbid get killed.. let alone the damage it’ll do to the vehicle.

Stay far away, same as we’re told to stay far away from the coyotes.

sc November 5, 2016 (7:07 pm)

So in long ago times, before houses and stores were here in West Seattle, herds of deer roamed freely.

Now we are following one alone.

Ironic.

Alki Resident November 5, 2016 (7:36 pm)

Let me know an area in West Seattle that there is no people. I’ll gladly go there. Someone needs to relocate this deer. He’s just going to go in circles.

AMD November 5, 2016 (8:44 pm)

If he makes it to the ferry terminal, do you think WSF will let him walk on for free to get to Vashon?

miws November 6, 2016 (10:36 am)

Doubtful, AMD.

But, back when walk-on fare was a buck, he would have been all set.

Mike

Question Mark November 5, 2016 (9:06 pm)

Young bucks of West Seattle, indeed … !! …

RayWest November 6, 2016 (3:45 am)

Whether intentional or not, someone is likely going to have a “close encounter” with this deer and they could get seriously hurt. I’m rather astounded by the response from Fish & Wildlife, the Humane Society, etc. that this is just an animal doing its thing so the policy is to leave it alone. This poor, scared animal is NOT in its natural habitat, and it’s acting accordingly. It is large and powerful, and we are not talking about a coyote that is socialized to living here! The deer is displaced, and if it feels threatened, it will attack. If it’s frightened, it could bolt into the street and cause an accident. For the safety of everyone and the deer, it needs to be safely and humanely relocated to where it belongs.

WSB November 6, 2016 (7:16 am)

To clarify who’s who for anyone just tuning in, the “Humane Society” has nothing to do with wildlife. The agencies we’ve been discussing here are the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Seattle Animal Shelter (which some refer to as “animal control”). If it is injured (if you look at the video clips people have sent, it seems to be just fine), SAS could be contacted. Someone else suggested PAWS. This page on their site explains why relocation is not necessarily a solution.
AY November 6, 2016 (9:10 am)

Raywest is right.

Kathy November 6, 2016 (9:33 am)

Smart deer knows it’s hunting season and it’s probably safer in the city.

M November 6, 2016 (9:55 am)

Well.. I just hope he makes it to the ferry and walks on and then the ferry gets him off at Vashon.

Vicki November 6, 2016 (10:48 am)

This deer can survive here in west seattle, if we give it the room and respect

it needs. Something terrible will happen if we try to interact or get too close to it.

Deer have powerful kicking ability to protect themselves against predators. Those hooves will easily kill a dog or hurt a human trying to get too close.

please Seattle- West Seattle- let’s make west seattle this deers home!

Put out a salt lick, water… I really think Fish & Wildlife has a responsibility to relocate this animal to a more suitable habitat.

If this deer continues to graze On fertilized lawns, drink polluted drainage water – its only a matter of time before those poisons Take effect.

But, I love just knowing we have a wild mammal here in our midst!!!

please, let’s protect him any way we can.

Westley needs a lift November 6, 2016 (10:53 am)

Second RayWest. This isn’t a raccoon, for god’s sake! Whichever agency that should be stepping up to humanely relocate this wild creature is prolonging his trauma and odds of a bad outcome through their “policies”.

unknown November 6, 2016 (12:53 pm)

I 2nd CONCERNED4WESTLEY and RAYWEST recommendations

Community Member November 6, 2016 (12:55 pm)

I really don’t think there is any tax-payer funded agency that is supposed to relocate deer. Why would there be? The deer is not an endangered species, and indeed the wildlife department manages the deer population by licensing hunting. Where would you expect the Wildlife department to take the deer, even if they captured it?

The deer is not aggressive or dangerous. Yes, it could cause a car accident, but so can off-leash dogs, raccoons, coyotes, blowing roof tarps…

RayWest November 6, 2016 (3:10 pm)

I respect your opinion but totally disagree. This is not a raccoon or a coyote that we can co-exist with. This is an anomaly and no different than when the bear wandered into Ravenna (that ended badly) or the cougar took up residence in the Magnolia area. Someone could be coming around a corner walking their dog and unexpectedly run into the buck and get attacked if the deer is spooked. It may be “friendly,” but at some point, something is going to happen. Male deer also become aggressive during mating season. The deer can be relocated to Issaquah area or the Cascade foothills. There is far more open space there for deer to peacefully co-exist with humans and each other. Personally, I love having a deer here, but the reality is, it will probably not end well. I want a happy ending here.