Deer visits town, stays

PLAINS — A deer wandered into town on Tuesday morning near city hall and the railroad tracks.

The animal was seen approaching people all during the week, allowing to be petted, calm in the extreme. It stared, and often would just look around, which annoyed some people. Not scared. Nor did it seem injured, although the deer was missing a chunk of fur on its snout and what looked like a healed wound near its front side.

Brian Doherty of Montana Rail Link, first noticed the animal walk up while he was working Tuesday morning. He was surprised it stayed there while the crew worked.

“Just came right up to me,” Doherty said, as he patted the animal’s head, “I thought it would be gone by now.”

Lloyd Brekke had a different experience, it would be safe to say; a somewhat different story.

“I thought the deer got rolled by a car,” Brekke said. “You see all the missing hair? I thought it was disoriented. It followed me down into town as I was walking to McGowan’s. And it was about to walk inside until I turned around and got it to leave me alone.”

UPDATE: Game Warden officials confirmed the animal was "put down," and donated to the local food bank.