Deer growling and attacking - we don't know why!

I heard my old deer friend, Susie, make a sound I never heard from a deer before. I looked in the bushes where she was certain the "problem" was, but I could see nothing. Still a mystery, but I thought the whole scene and especially the sounds she made, were worth recording. We suspect that perhaps there was a snake in that part of the bushes. This is a place where her fawns love to hide out, so perhaps she was thinking of her fawns, but we really don't know.
BTW, sorry, but we misidentified the gland next to Susie's eye. It's actually called the preorbital gland.
The short music clips in this video are from us, Starseed:
from the album: Ambient Blue
starseed23.bandcamp.com/album...
Rasa: electric guitar
Bastian: synthesizers
Marlis: Good Vibes
Starseed: www.starseedmusic.net

[@Clickathon]

I've seen this trick before, her friend is raiding your kitchen

[@jonilikens8184]

Haha! That is funny!

[@TheOblivionFan]

I liked seeing you two interact when investigating that possible threat together, a real partnership.

[@frank24754]

She seemed to have the behavior of a guard dog to some respect.

[@RedSpiralHandTV]

Wow, that's crazy. Thanks for capturing it on video. Reminds me of a time when I lived next to the forest in Nehalem and we had big herds of elk that hung out around the house and land there.... They were used to seeing us at the garden on the adjacent land and around the yard. We were used to their sounds and behaviors. One night I awoke to the sound of the elk bedded nearby making warning sounds... I sat up and knew exactly what it was immediately even though I was half asleep. Woke up just in time to see a HUGE green colored meteor pass overhead (through my bedroom skylight) and off to the west over the sea. It was so bright that it lit the room up like the sun... Was crazy. Probably would have missed it had it not been for the elk warning calls. This was like November of 2012 I think...

[@LakeReeder]

Im sure at the time it was scary but in hindsight it sounds like beautiful memory

[@upontheventura]

Wow. Very interesting- I hate seeing Susie upset like that though!

[@christianbolze7092]

Maybe a ferret or a weasel? Deers usually dont like them.

[@khrellian3327]

its cool how she trusts you so much!

[@Submersed24]

Makes me realize deers are really smart creatures

[@GregD-7]

The deer loves you so much

[@kumuluskld]

Very cool. Didn't know deer could make sounds like that. But animals can be surprising. Once our dog barked/growled in a very unusual way that I had never heard before at a telephone repairman coming back upstairs from our basement. And she never usually barked at anything. We have deer all around our area in a suburban housing edition & they're often in our yard. Sometimes they'll sit down & rest. Looked out in the backyard one nite & there were 3 of them doing that. Never gets old seeing them. Thx for sharing

[@danni1993]

ALWAYS listen to your dog!

[@diaryofamadmixedgirl1018]

At 1:49 you can see another deer run out of the bushes. Possibly a deer that wanted to mate but she didn't. I found this video because I have a deer stalker. I've thrown branches at it trying to get to leave me alone but it keeps approaching me everyday. Since I've threatened it, I'm scared its going to attack me

[@karolinesmail489]

Yes seen it

[@deesmith6363]

She was chasing a strange deer off. 1:48

[@mrkrabstinysadviolin1400]

Wow, amazing. I didn’t know it was possible to get a deer to trust you like that, so sweet.

[@mrPigskin]

Looks like it brought you there to help scare away a predator, likely a coyote or two. The huffing is one of the things I’ve seen them do when a threat is around, especially if it’s where they birth their fawns. I’ve seen them do it with a large rattlesnake also, anything that is a danger to their young. The way it ran thru the brush looks like it was trying to flush out whatever was in there earlier. It was visibly upset. Great video.

[@troin3925]

Some other deer species make similar growling sounds.

[@Blondie727]

Beautiful video. Susie is a cutie & I’m glad this was recommended to me. I never knew a deer made those type of “growling” noises. I love to learn more about wildlife.❤

[@jonilikens8184]

How did you make such friends with her? I feed some deer, that come around, and have for awhile but they are still afraid of me! Wish I could befriend one like Susie! Was it a snake, maybe?

[@PelorianPages]

I think snake is a good guess. The deer in our area are pretty used to humans, but most are very shy, like your deer. When I moved into this house Susie was about a year old. She was laying down in my back yard, and I slowly approached her. I was surprised that she didn't get up at all, like most the other deer when you come near them. I kneeled down and scratched her head. She loved that, and we've been friends ever since. I think the few deer in each generation that befriend us are just smarter than other deer. They are quicker to figure out that we are not a threat. They are just as quick to be on alert or instantly leave with the rest of the deer when a suspicious stranger comes into the yard, so they do seem very aware of what is safe or not. I know that deer are very sensitive to body language. If we have a group of deer in the yard, even with some laying down, if we walk right next to them, but act like we are not interested in them at all, not even looking at them, they will usually just calmly watch us go by. As soon as you look at one as you approach, or make a strange movement, they are immediately on alert, and they will usually jump up. They seem so calm most of the time, but it's a zen calm where they are at rest but fully aware. Pretty amazing.

[@mimosa27]

What a beauty she is.

[@michaelmassaro4375]

This was awesome for me to watch I feed deer in my area and post videos of them I’ve gotten some bad responses many nice comments I’ve heard all the reasons why they shouldn’t be fed but when I think about what they go through with people hitting them with their cars or hunting them than I feel not so bad about myself giving them apples or peanuts some of them are pretty trustworthy of me I tried putting my hand with an apple close to the deer wanted to see how much trust she had of me but for a second it looked like she kind of grimaced or made like a slight growl so I abandoned that effort they still come toward me when they see me though because I usually have some apples to give them I wish o could gain their trust enough to be able to pet a couple of them but I won’t push my luck thanks for your video Susie is awesome

[@jonilikens8184]

Do they take apples out of your hand? I feed some, too. They are still Leary of me, tho. Wish I could get closer to them. They are beautiful animals!

[@soarornor]

I have a site where I post my deer videos. I live on 32 acres and there are a lot of deer around here. There have always been deer coming through this property. It borders the woods and there are big fields. The relationship slowly developed between me and a female deer. She had fawns and we’ve all been friends. I often post videos of me feeding them and although the majority of comments are positive and amazed, every now and then I’ll get someone getting super nasty about how I’m endangering the deer by habituating them to human contact. A complete load of rubbish. First off, these deer chose to enter my space. They were just friendly and curious. Ate my rose bushes too but that’s ok. The idea that deer will just walk up to anyone for food is absurd. Real wild deer are cautious. Very cautious. Even with me they are relaxed but on alert. You learn to move slowly around deer as that keeps them calm. I don’t believe that anyone out there has ever gathered statistics on whether a deer who has a human friend will automatically trust any human they see. Deer are very intelligent and know how to read a human and can suss out its intent from a distance. But besides all of that, more deer are killed by natural predators than probably anything. Often it’s the fawns that get grabbed. Very vulnerable. Next is probably cars. Hunters use high powered long range guns, so there is no need for a deer to walk up to them. I firmly believe that some deer really enjoy human company and are happy to know one that would rather slice up an apple for them rather than a hunter who sees them only as a challenge. Just my two cents on the subject.

[@FalloutConspiracy]

Perhaps there was a small squirrel hiding in the bushes after trying to get close to the food that you leave outside for Susie and friends? It appears that she was just defending what she perceives to be her domain. Animals that are normally co-operative with, or indifferent to, one another can become territorial and aggressive whenever humans introduce artificial scarcity into their environment (i.e., food that they cannot find for themselves with any consistency or regularity).

[@maris7457]

ahhh. that growl, man - i was looking for my lost cat on my property in the middle of the night one day. i was standing on the side of the driveway overlooking a field screaming the cat's name, with woods to my right. then i listened hard for any meowing. after a pause there was a LOUD, guttural growl immediately to my right side coming from the woods. nearly shat myself lol (was an annoyed deer ofc)

[@MorrowSind]

Such cool creatures.

[@Winngee]

So intelligent aww😍🥰🥰

[@lisamariem78]

This was so interesting! I started feeding mama dear when pregnant. She had the baby basically near my doorstep. Now im trying to set some boundaries w her bc all 4 come to feed 3 times a day! And if i dont give/have anything.. they eat up my plants

[@Qbgarden]

You have some beautiful land sir.

[@Timsgal777]

wow that was so cool, very strange.

[@vidgealz]

A foreign deer was in their territory. Susie chased it off.

[@karolinesmail489]

Could it be unfamiliar male in area marking??? Just a guess n was fawns near?ground hogs?

[@letsgobrandon7297]

Whitetail deer make up to 400 different vocal/sounds. This sounds like a roar call that whitetail bucks make during the rut but never heard a doe doing it especially during summer. Deer have 7 glands and 4 stomach chambers.

[@-108-]

What do you mean, 7 glands? They have a lot more glands than that!

[@letsgobrandon7297]

@-108-: I’m a deer biologist dude, they have 7. They have 4 chambered stomachs too.

[@-108-]

@@letsgobrandon7297 U R not a deer biologist. There isn't even a profession called "deer biologist." What are the 7 glands a deer has?

[@letsgobrandon7297]

@-108-: Omg man i imagine if you looked it up on google it would tell you somewhere on there. Or a book about white tail deer. And here are glands you asked for 1) Forehead gland, 2) Pre orbital gland (right below their eyes), 3) inner digital gland, 4) Nasal gland, 5) pre putial gland, 6) tarsal gland, 7) Metatarsal gland. I of course study the invasive plant species in these areas, soil samples etc but it’s mostly for white-tail deer. I could care less about raccoons or possums that are destroying our Turkey population along with coyotes.

[@-108-]

@@letsgobrandon7297 So you are a "deer biologist" and you had to use Google to tell me what "all 7" glands are in a white tail deer's body? Well I'm not a deer biologist - In fact, I know virtually nothing about deer - and I could tell you there were more than 7 of them. So I used AI, and I was right! Sorry, "deer biologist," but you need to go back to school! There are as many as 18 glands in the body of a white tail deer. If I list them here, my comment will be deleted by youtube... just like this one probably will. I'll try putting them in another reply...

[@herec0mestheCh33f]

"A lone tenno operative is raiding this ship for much needed supplies. You are here to distract the enemy. Ready? Trigger the alarms."

[@cherokeefit4248]

I bet they venture to other places where people chase them or throw stuff.

[@anthonyluzzio5026]

Susie could be growling at a chipmunk in those bushes.

[@geauxdesormeaux8856]

You can hear the animal she was after once she clears the bushes . Not a snake . When she jumped the junipers was flushed it out and continued to chase it. Snake wouldn’t have made it that far. Maybe you should have taken yourself around the corner to investigate

[@nervouswreck392]

WHAT STATE/COUNTRY IS THIS IN⁉️

[@Aelea]

Awwwwwwww I wanna deer frieeeend

[@al-oh8fq]

Maybe she sensed a Ghost? 👻👻👻

[@nicholasforrester8587]

I would be afraid of rabies.

[@11tigerclaw11]

What species of-deer is this? I’ve never seen Red deer hinds make this type of noise ?

[@PelorianPages]

Mule deer. I've heard our deer call for their babies, and sometimes that can be a bit loud, but I never heard anything like this!

[@blssurhrtpws1139]

About the the time I posted a reply it was said she may have scared off a snake

[@sydneyrose6455]

1:17 is the hair on her back standing up? Admittedly I don’t know all animal body languages but back hair standing seems to usually be a bad sign

[@PelorianPages]

I didn't really notice that, but it could be. Wouldn't surprise me. She was very nervous about whatever was in the bushes. Other times when their hair stands up, it's not a bad thing! Check out this scene: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qpXXgXqZhZqGhdUsi=rdcOghYM7TYOoGOt&t=188

[@davidhile5363]

What country do you live in ?

[@choctawmaidenflorida2155]

Cool 😎

[@dawnpickard1052]

Ate something hallucinating

[@rad1930]

I think she was just showing off her territorial dominance to you, saying "hay look I’m good at showing predators I’m not scared & I’m the boss" she’s empowered knowing that you got her back so showing you her gratitude by role play, "she’s got this", very cute 🥰

[@Dragon-Slay3r]

Hannah world?

[@blssurhrtpws1139]

Snake or something??

[@jacquesdemolay462]

👀👂

[@AndyFromBeaverton]

1:00 You could see those glands wide open much earlier. Normally they'll open up if they are sexually excited, so I'm guessing a male had been marking the area when her baby likes to lay.

[@PelorianPages]

I've read that they really don't know a lot about that gland. I've noticed that it opens when I scratch Susie and she's really enjoying it. See this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJm4cqWYebuHppI - in this case, she was certainly upset about something, and this is actually not the right time of year for the bucks to be interested in the does.

[@AndyFromBeaverton]

@@PelorianPages I raised an orphaned male black-tailed deer a few years ago. I managed to get it on camera only a couple times. One time it was playing chase with an alpine goat and a lab.

[@Libbathegreat]

You don't see that other deer just a little above dead center of the screen @1:47 and then scampering off to the right @ 1:50? She was just defending her territory.

[@PelorianPages]

Sorry, but the other deer is Susie's sister Sandy. They get along just fine. It was something we couldn't see in the bushes that got her upset.

[@miroslavzima8856]

Are there coyotes or other canine/feline predators? Maybe they were there to check the place, where fawns were and left scent. And while Susie smelled it, she might be very upset. My horses don´t like scent of wild boars. And while one was hiding near the track we are taking into stable, both horses were VERY upset. This is why I think this (but might be totally wrong!)

[@heatherthunderhawk485]

at 1.48 take screenshots...brown area. There are interdimensional beings that they sense. Animals sense them. Thats all I could see. I love that the deer called for your protection. Your such wonderful people.

[@purebaldness]

Your certainty on this is bizarre

[@southerngrown]

It’s just another deer

[@Libbathegreat]

If by "interdimensional being" you mean "a totally normal deer" that's visible in the middle of the screen and then scampering off at 1:50, then you're right on the money 🙄

[@jadelee6555]

A snake maybe?

[@Signkae1]

SNAKE?

[@Eastky23wildlife]

Snake

[@MagVair]

Could have been a snake?

[@telesniper2]

it's rabid

[@PelorianPages]

You mean the deer? Uh, no. Why would you even say that?

[@mediosinformativosdelsuryn6134]

DIOS----MI CRISTO--LOS PROTEJA HOY SIEMPRE,,,,,,,GOOD {{{GENTE QUE AMA LOS ANMALITOS,,,,GOOD-CRISTO}}}

[@dustinlaverdure6711]

This doesnt show deer attacking wtf

[@PelorianPages]

At 1:45 she runs into the bushes and attacks something that we can't see. We suspect it was a snake.

[@martincuter4954]

she lost baby?

[@PelorianPages]

No, her two fawns from this year are fine. I saw them both today.

[@shameless1047]

I took a screen shot at 1:48 and I see 2 alien like creatures

[@Miztique]

what are you even talking about lol

[@dr-dorky]

Where, exactly?

[@nicolascage5323]

Bruh

[@Libbathegreat]

if by "alien like creature" you mean "a totally normal deer", then you nailed it.

[@canadapainter658]

WELL,,, it sounds a little stupid,,,, an animal finds something in the bush get nervous about it and video guy not check WHAT IS IN THE BUSH? that was the reason the deer was waiting from the video guy to DO SOMETHING.....( as you can see few humans are dumb).,

[@PelorianPages]

Uh, thanks, I guess. We did look in the bushes, as you can see in the video, and we saw nothing. She saw us looking, and I think she appreciated that I took an interest. I doubt she blamed us for not seeing what she saw. But, hey, if you want to think humans are dumb, you have that right. Humans do seem to be dumb about a lot of stuff, but I'm not sure what else we could have done in this situation.

[@Miztique]

yeah...that does sounds stupid...I don't think i'd want to go investigating in bushes waiting for a possible venomous snake to bite!

[@PelorianPages]

@@Miztique That was my main thought - don't get too close! I could see fairly well, and it may be that a snake ran off when she attacked.

[@jenniferlee7167]

@@PelorianPages Do you have venomous snakes around there? I saw you looking around, but not in the bushes. I, too, am terrified of snakes so if that was it, perfectly understandable.