The ‘Most Dangerous Animal’ in Yosemite National Park Isn’t What You Think

On a typical autumn day, two male mule deer stand in a valley of Yosemite National Park (@yosemitenps), battling with their antlers to win a female standing over there under a tree. By the time the battle comes to an end and the winner succeeds in shooing away another deer, the female is too scared that she runs away, leaving this deer to spend the evening ambling lonely in the dry grounds. The scene looks quite smooth, but a lot more drama goes on behind the scenes, as the park also described on Facebook.

For these deer, autumn is an “emotionally charged time” when they are desperately seeking a partner to mate with. Failing to find a female mate, their hormones cause them to become aggressive towards human visitors. But as it turns out, it’s not just unrequited love that turns these antlered Romeos aggressive. It’s just about anything and everything. In a recent post, the park revealed that their mule deer are some of the “most dangerous animals” humans should keep their distance from.

Typically, when someone thinks of the “most dangerous animal,” what comes to mind is predators like mountain lions, hulking grizzly bears, or poisonous rattlesnakes. Mule deer, never. What could these slim-bodied, black-tailed, innocent animals do to harm anybody? But once you encounter one up close, which the park suggests you don’t, you would know that sometimes the animal least expected of danger can turn out to be the most dangerous. And at Yosemite, these mule deer decide the rules. “Every year, more injuries in Yosemite are caused by deer than by any other animal in the park,” the park wrote in the caption.

The park explained that while these animals may seem utterly harmless to humans, they, in fact, are quite “wild” and “skittish.” A seemingly innocent one can be spotted chewing grass in a meadow, wandering on a trail, or crossing a road, but don’t go by the appearance. “Equipped with sharp hooves and antlers, a deer will lash out and defend itself if startled. This happens most often when visitors try to approach or feed them,” the park said, advising visitors to maintain distance from these animals. The officials also strictly recommend against approaching a deer to feed it.

No matter how adorable or warm they might look on the surface, deep within, they are just as elusive as mountain lions and as wild as to deserve all the privacy and space they need to be happy and comfortable. “Leave the animals alone. Problem solved. You’re a visitor on their land, show respect,” Instagram user @kittenfitzgerald said in a comment. @tucker.kj added, “Simple rule: no matter how friend-shaped, keep away.”

Unlike most predators, these animals don’t have claws or sharp, triangular teeth to rip a human’s flesh. On the surface, they are as unassuming as the trees they rest underneath. But behind this impeccable façade, their greatest trigger lies in their emotion. When it comes to their space, even the slightest disturbance will be met with an unforgiving attack. “Sometimes, the most picturesque animals can pack an unexpected punch,” the park exclaimed. Walk deep into the forestlands of Yosemite, and the echoes of their grunts and bleats will tell you that they are untamed and they always will be.

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