A B.C. conservation officer is urging caution after two dogs were attacked by a deer earlier this week in a Sooke neighbourhood.

Conservation officer Scott Norris says that while the incident wasnB次元官网网址檛 reported to local officials, deer attacks are not uncommon.

On Thursday, a Sooke couple found themselves in a face-off with a deer, which trampled their dogs.

B次元官网网址滻t was really scary,B次元官网网址� Chrissy Burt wrote on a Facebook group page.

The attack was likely from a doe protecting her young, Norris said.

B次元官网网址淚f thereB次元官网网址檚 fawns around, which this time of year thereB次元官网网址檚 going to be a hundred being born, potentially sheB次元官网网址檚 just protecting a fawn,B次元官网网址� he said.

Norris recalled one incident in Duncan when a woman was chased back into her house by an aggressive doe, with the deer leaving hoof prints on her front door.

B次元官网网址淲hen you got dogs in your yard and that area, sheB次元官网网址檚 going to protect her fawn, and that might mean trampling someoneB次元官网网址檚 dog to reduce that threat.B次元官网网址�

Deer attacks are most likely in the fall, and involving bucks during a rut (mating season) where they will chase and hound just about anything in their way.

Though no deer attacks were reported in Sooke recently, Norris urged the public to treat deer encounters with caution.

B次元官网网址淭his time of year, keep your dogs close, keep them on a leash. If you get a deer approach you in an aggressive manner, get yourself and your dogs back to safety,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淭hat momma instinct kicks in, so you need to back away and give them lots of space so they donB次元官网网址檛 feel threatened.B次元官网网址�