Ottawa has long had a front-row seat to Ontario's urban wildlife drama — and a recent incident in Owen Sound is a startling reminder that deer aren't always content to stay on the lawn.
Owen Sound police responded to a bizarre call after a deer jumped through a ground-floor apartment window, shattering glass and jolting two residents awake in the middle of the night. One woman was asleep in her bedroom when the deer crashed through; another person nearby was equally startled by the sudden four-legged intruder.
A Wild Wake-Up Call
According to police, the deer appeared to have been spooked before leaping through the window. While no serious injuries were reported, the incident left behind a mess of broken glass and one very confused animal.
Officers were able to help the deer exit the unit — presumably through the same window it came in — and the residents were left to deal with the aftermath of what has to be one of Ontario's stranger home invasions.
Ottawa's Own Urban Deer Problem
This kind of encounter might sound far-fetched, but anyone who's lived near Ottawa's greenbelt, Stittsville, Barrhaven, or the rural edges of Kanata knows that deer are a constant presence in the city's suburban and semi-rural neighbourhoods.
Every fall and winter, the Ottawa area sees a spike in deer-vehicle collisions as the animals move more actively through urban corridors. The National Capital Commission's greenbelt — which wraps around a large swath of the city — provides prime habitat, and deer regularly wander into residential backyards, gardens, and yes, occasionally onto porches and driveways.
While deer crashing through windows is rare, experts note that startled or disoriented deer can become unpredictable, especially during rutting season in the fall. A frightened deer can move fast and erratically, and glass doors or large windows can look like open space to an animal that doesn't understand reflections.
What to Do If You Encounter a Deer
If you find a deer on your property — or, in the extreme case, inside your home — wildlife officials recommend:
- Don't approach or corner it. A cornered deer will panic and can cause serious injury with its hooves.
- Open a clear exit route — a door, gate, or wide opening — and give the animal space to find its way out.
- Call the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources or your local animal services if the animal appears injured or can't leave on its own.
- Avoid feeding deer, which encourages them to associate homes with food and reduces their natural wariness of humans.
Coexisting With Wildlife in the Capital
Ottawa's proximity to green space is one of the things that makes it a great place to live — but it also means learning to share the city with its wild neighbours. Deer, coyotes, foxes, and even the occasional black bear have all made headlines in and around the capital over the years.
The Owen Sound incident is a good reminder to stay aware, especially if you live near wooded areas. A deer in the backyard is charming. A deer in the bedroom is something else entirely.
Source: Global News Ottawa via RSS feed
