Should You Be Afraid If You Encounter a Deer in Maine?

When it comes to living in Maine, there are few things that one must accept. Loads of traffic on Route 1 between May and September, super-cold weather for six months out of every year, an insanely long line at Red's Eats and, of course, encountering wildlife.

While Maine is an absolutely massive state by land size, we really don't have that many people here compared to states of similar size. However, what we do have, is piles of animals. Some that are harmless, some that are furry and some that you should probably do your best to avoid.

But what happens when the lines between harmless and 'ones to avoid' become blurred? For the most part, Mainers know what animals they should be avoiding. For example, if you come across a mama black bear and her cubs in the wilderness, most of us aren't gonna approach with a bag of Beggin' Strips and try to make her sit for a treat.

However, I've seen countless videos and pictures of people intentionally trying to get close to deer. And while deer might seem sweet and gentle, they actually possess cat-like speed and reflexes and, some would argue, fourth degree blackbelt ninja skills.

According to information from The Deer Association (yes that's a real thing), one of the quickest ways to get on a wild animal’s bad side, especially a deer, is by getting between a mama and her baby.

That goes for deer, elk, moose, you name it. If she thinks you're a threat to her fawn, she won't hesitate to charge or defend. It basically all comes down to survival instincts. That mama deer is inherently wired to protect her little one at all costs and she’s not going to wait for you to explain that you just want a selfie.