3 dead deer on Lakeshore

Photo: Getty Images

While police investigate the discovery of a dead deer along a popular Kelowna hiking trail, it is not the only mystery surrounding dead animals.

On Sunday Nov. 20, Troy Anthony came across a dead deer on the Mission Greenway that appears to have been shot. He reported the incident and police said whoever shot and killed a deer could face criminal charges.

But it is not the first time dead deer had been reported to police.

On Nov. 13, Jyoti Sandhu and her husband were driving home at around 12:30 a.m. when they spotted three deer laying down near Anne McClymont Elementary School on Lakeshore Road.

At first, Sandhu spotted a single deer lying down and thought maybe it was some sort of lawn ornament, but then she spotted two more. Two of the yearlings were on one side of the road, while the third was on the sidewalk on the other side.

She didn't see any marks on the deer like one would expect if they had been hit by a car, although she did notice blood around one of the animals.

“It seemed like it was coming from underneath it,” she said. “It was super disturbing. It was so unusual. To hit three deer on Lakeshore before 12:30, it doesn't add up to me.”

However, it would seem that is exactly what happened.

Cpl. Jesse O'Donaghey said it appears the animals were in fact struck by a vehicle.

O'Donaghey said police responded to a request to assist the public with the dispatch of a deer found seriously injured and believed to be suffering in the 4000 block of Lakeshore Road. 

“Two other deceased deer were located in close proximity to Lakeshore Road, therefore it is believed that their injuries were as a result of being struck by motor vehicles,” he said. “It is not uncommon, at this time of year, for deer to be struck and seriously injured by vehicles on local roadways and area highways.”

RCMP respond to wildlife calls from the public when conservation officers are not immediately available to attend.