WATCH: Experts say a YouTube video showing a woman petting a deer in Stanley Park is concerning.
New video of what appears to be the “Downtown Deer” is very concerning to the Vancouver Park Board.
Footage posted to YouTube on Sunday shows a woman petting a deer and allowing it to lick her hands. The woman and a man also comment on how tame the deer is.
The Park Board says they believe the deer in the video is the only one in Stanley Park right now. He’s about a year old and healthy, but experts aren’t sure why he is so habituated to humans.
Last Friday, a Global News crew was on location in Stanley Park when a deer approached them. It appeared to be very friendly and curious. A City worker passing by told them this was the “Downtown Deer” seen wandering around the city centre last month.
WATCH: Downtown deer visits Global BC on location
Experts say the latest YouTube video is concerning.
“It’s just inappropriate behaviour,” said Vancouver Park Board biologist Nick Page. “It’s a wild animal. The concern is the well-being of the deer. I don’t think there’s any risk to humans interacting with the deer. It’s not going to bite them or something like that.
“Our concern is it’s going to become more and more accustomed to people. It’s going to start moving out of the more natural areas of Stanley Park–maybe into the edge of the West End–and then it’s going to more susceptible to being attacked by dogs. Probably the big risk is being hit by a car on the road.”
-With files from Kristen Robinson
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