Off-leash dog attacks deer in Banff, prompts Parks Canada investigation

BANFF – Parks Canada has launched an investigation into an off-leash dog attack on a male deer on Banff Avenue.

Natalie Fay, external relations manager for Banff National Park, said since the investigation is ongoing, no further information is available at this time.

“Obviously a distressing thing to see happen,” she said.

“It serves as a strong reminder to residents and visitors about the importance of not only keeping your dog on-leash, but also under your control at all times.”

In Banff National Park, the law requires dogs to be on-leash at all times.

The incident, caught on a 40-second video clip that was circulated on popular social media site Reddit, shows the off-leash dog attacking the mule deer outside the Moxy hotel on Banff Avenue last weekend.

The off-leash dog appears to be biting into the deer’s ear and grabbing it by an antler – and not letting go.

A woman tries to get the dog off the deer, and is knocked to the ground in the process. At one point, she grabs the deer by the antlers.

A witness can be heard saying: “What are you doing, you moron?”

Nick de Ruyter, program director for Bow Valley WildSmart, said the attack on the deer was alarming.

“It’s definitely startling … the dog was obviously harassing that deer big time,” he said.

“It’s a good example of why pets need to be kept on-leash at all times, unless in a designated off-leash area.”

This dog attack not only posed a risk to the deer, but also to the dog and people in the area, de Ruyter said.

“That was a very stressful event for the deer. What if that deer with the dog runs out onto the road? Then they could get hit by a vehicle,” he said.

“There are just multiple levels of danger there for people, pets and wildlife.”

Coming out of the fall rut, animals like deer and elk are already low on energy during the winter months and an attack by an off-leash dog could impact their survival, said de Ruyter.

“They're tired. They’re trying to recover from the busy fall during the rut so they have very little energy to begin with,” de Ruyter said.

“If they expend too much energy or get too stressed out, that could affect their life as well, potentially dying if they are in a very low energy state during the winter months.”

The incident highlights not just the need to keep dogs on-leash, said de Ruyter, but also the need to simply do the right thing for the wildlife that live in the Bow Valley.

“You might think your dog is well-behaved but you never know how they will react when they see wildlife,” he said.

“There are laws and bylaws, but it shouldn’t be because of that. It should be about doing the right thing and being a good neighbour for each other, for our pets, and for our wildlife.”

Parks Canada’s Fay pointed residents and visitors to the Parks Canada website to help understand how to be responsible park users.

“Off-leash dogs can provoke defensive behaviour from animals like grizzly bears and elk or unintentionally harm smaller species,” she said.

“Your actions matter. When you leave Banff National Park – leave it wild.”