A video of a woman petting a young deer that approached her has ignited a discussion on social media about human interactions with wildlife.
The clip, posted by TikTok user @admissionshoppingking, has garnered 1.5 million views since it was uploaded on July 24.
The video, captioned "Oh the mountain life!," features a woman standing in what appears to be the backyard of a home surrounded by mountains.
In the clip, a baby deer is seen cautiously approaching her, and the woman can be seen stroking and caressing the animal. A note overlaid on the video reads: "We made a new friend. My wife is in heaven!"
The poster clarified in a later comment that the deer had been rescued, writing: "No mama. She's a rescue. They saved her life."
Wildlife experts caution against close encounters with wild animals, even in seemingly harmless situations like the one captured in the viral video.
Professor Chad Bishop, director of the Wildlife Biology Program at the University of Montana, stressed the importance of maintaining a safe distance from animals.
"As a general rule, people should avoid approaching any wild animal, for their own safety and the safety of the animal," Bishop told Newsweek.
He explained that while deer typically avoid humans, there are instances where they may feel threatened and could become aggressive. "Deer will generally run away from a human that approaches them, but on occasion, they will confront the person and become aggressive. Aggression may include kicking and headbutting, which is especially dangerous if it's a buck (antlered male deer)," he added.
The viral post has also drawn attention to the potential consequences of habituating wild animals to human interaction.
"Feeding deer and other wildlife by hand is dangerous as it habituates wildlife to humans, leading to more frequent and potentially more aggressive encounters with other people," Bishop said. He emphasized that when people come across deer or other wildlife, it's crucial to stay at a safe distance to avoid risks, especially in unpredictable situations.
According to the National Park Service (NPS), getting too close to wildlife not only puts humans at risk but can also be harmful to the animals. The NPS advises that people observe wildlife from a distance of at least 100 to 150 feet, depending on the situation.
The NPS also highlights various risks associated with close human-animal encounters. For humans, these risks include bites, scratches, bruises, and even the potential transmission of diseases like rabies and hantavirus.
The dangers for the animals are equally severe—wildlife that becomes comfortable around humans may face an increased likelihood of being hit by vehicles or needing to be euthanized if they become aggressive, the NPS warned.
While many are captivated by the seemingly innocent interaction in the viral clip, Bishop and the NPS urge people to admire wildlife from afar, for both the safety of humans and the animals.
In situations involving wildlife, Bishop advises caution. "People should err on the side of staying further away to avoid risk from an unexpected situation, such as an animal suddenly charging a person," he said.
'Don't Touch the Fawn'
The viral video quickly became a point of discussion, with viewers divided over the appropriateness of touching the animal.
Some users were enchanted by the encounter, commenting on the cuteness of the deer, while others expressed concern for the animal's well-being.
One user, @weirdointhewoods, commented, "Omg that is precious!!!" while another user, Hanna Boyd, wrote, "So sweet."
Others, however, issued warnings. "Please, don't TOUCH the fawn," cautioned user pink moon.
User heathersund920 noted, "Congratulations, you've just made her [the fawn] an easy target to trust humans leading to being more likely to be a hunters target or hit by a car."
User @00kjm17 stated, "That baby is hungry!!" This sentiment was echoed by J12 who said, "Very cute. She's hungry. May have lost her mom..."
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. This video has not been independently verified.
A stock image of a woman stroking and feeding a young deer. A video of a woman who befriends a young deer that approaches her has gone viral on TikTok.A stock image of a woman stroking and feeding a young deer. A video of a woman who befriends a young deer that approaches her has gone viral on TikTok.iStock / Getty Images PlusDo you have a travel-related video or story to share? Let us know via life@newsweek.com and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
