The deer was spotted Wednesday morning near Meany Middle School — Thanks to Sam Cetron for the pictures

Add a young buck to the wildlife sightings around Capitol Hill this spring. Sightings of the small deer were reported Wednesday across northeastern Capitol Hill and into the Central District including a stop captured with these pictures from near Meany Middle School.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife says nobody reported the animal so it wasn’t aware of the deer’s unusual route. “It’s not uncommon for deer to find their way into green space,” WDFW communications manager Samantha Montgomery tells CHS. “If the deer is injured or sick, or causing negative interactions in the neighborhood, we would ask folks to report that.”

A viral infection killing deer in the San Juan Islands is not a risk to livestock, pets, or people, WDFW says.

(Image: Sam Cetron)

This particular fuzzy antlered buck didn’t appear to be in distress though some of its choices as a pedestrian were a little bold. While it might be “not uncommon” for deer to find their way into parks and yards for grass, it’s not a typical sight around Capitol Hill. In 2010, CHS reported on one deer’s travels gaining attention around the St. Mark’s Greenbelt. If spotted in Central Seattle, it’s more typical to find the ruminants closer to Lake Washington.

The deer’s presence joins the spotting of a coyote in Interlaken Park in May on your Capitol Hill area wildlife bingo card. You probably don’t need to keep making marks for all the Eastern Cottontails you’ll see. That owl spot will also probably be filled again soon.

For now, the Meany Middle School deer seems to have found his way off the Hill. We haven’t heard of any additional sightings following the flurry on Wednesday.

For more information on having deer as a neighbor, check in here with the WDFW. For information on sick or injured wildlife, visit wdfw.wa.gov.

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