A mule deer buck is making a stir online thanks to its bizarre antler break. The animal's right antler is dangling down in front of its face. It looks like it has the deer version of bangs.
Speaking with Cowboy State Daily, biologist Kevin Monteith says that a break like this is relatively rare for a deer.
"What must have happened is some level of force caused the pedicle to break, which is why the skin is still attached," he said. "That's pretty rare. More likely, what happens is the antler itself snaps."
The deer has become something of a local celebrity for residents in Sheridan. Exactly what happened to the mule deer remains a mystery. It's possible that he broke his antler in a fight with another deer. It's also possible that a car could have struck it as well. Fortunately, according to Monteith, the broken antler isn't a death sentence.
Deer With A Strange Antler
It shouldn't impact the overall health of the animal.
Local resident, Clay Stoner, spoke with the outlet about the deer.
"When I first saw it (the broken antler), I saw it dangling down by the deer's face and I thought, 'Wow, it's a little early for him to be dropping an antler,'" he said. "It's detached, so when he walks, it kind of bounces around, it's mostly just held on by the skin at the base."
Local photographer, Tim Doolin, also said that the deer showed up randomly.
"He happened to show up there, and I just had to take pictures of him, because he's unique," Doolin said. "From what people told me, apparently earlier in the year he was normal, then something happened to him. His antler is really quite well-formed otherwise. It looks normal, it's just positioned strangely."
Monteith believes that a car likely struck the animal. He said the deer will have a permanently messed-up antler.
"Once this antler falls off, the antler that grows back next year will be severely deformed," he said, but not down in its eyes. "It's highly unlikely that next year's antler will head that way."
