Deer kills dog, injures woman in Okanagan: conservation officers

A female deer defending her fawn killed a dog and sent a woman to hospital in West Kelowna, conservation officers say.

It happened around 5:30 p.m. PT Monday near the Westgate Mobile Home Park.

According to the B.C. Conservation Officer Service, a woman was walking her two chihuahuas on a leash in the area when they were attacked by a doe.

One of the dogs was trampled and killed and the woman was treated in hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

In an emailed statement, the conservation officer service says it has determined the attack was defensive, as the doe was protecting a fawn. 

"At this time of year, deer and ungulates are often with their young and are more likely to become aggressive," the service said in the email.

Signs have been posted in the area warning the public about the deer.