What began as a gentle act of compassion ended in tragedy after a beloved grandmother in Queensland, Australia was mauled to death by the very deer she had rescued and raised by hand. Authorities have confirmed that 77-year-old Margaret Collins was found fatally injured in her backyard, suffering catastrophic wounds after the animal — a male red deer she had cared for over five years — suddenly turned on her.
“She treated that deer like family,” one neighbor told ABC News. “She bottle-fed him, talked to him, even named him Charlie. We all thought it was sweet — none of us ever imagined this.”
Police were called to the remote rural property in Gympie Shire after emergency services received a frantic call from Collins’s husband, who discovered the horrifying scene just after dawn. “It was every bit as bad as you can imagine,” said Queensland Police Inspector Scott Murphy. “The deer had gored her multiple times before she could escape. She died from her injuries at the scene.”
“Grandmother mauled to death by pet deer she rescued — police describe ‘horrific and violent’ scene.” @guardian
Paramedics attempted to treat Collins, but the deer, still aggressive, prevented them from approaching. Officers were forced to shoot the animal to reach her. “The deer was highly agitated and dangerous,” Murphy said. “For the safety of everyone on scene, police had no choice but to euthanize it.”
According to wildlife experts, the deer’s violent behavior was likely triggered by hormones during mating season. “Red deer, especially males, can become territorial and unpredictable when rutting,” explained National Geographic wildlife specialist Dr. Karen Fielding. “Even a hand-raised deer is still a wild animal — its instincts don’t disappear because it was raised in captivity.”
Friends described Collins as a gentle soul who spent her retirement rescuing and rehabilitating injured animals. “She was one of those people who couldn’t walk past a hurt creature,” said a local farmer interviewed by BBC News. “She nursed that deer back to health after it was hit by a car. It grew up in her care. It’s heartbreaking that the thing she loved most took her life.”
“Police confirm the deer that killed a 77-year-old woman in Queensland has been shot dead. Family says she raised it from a fawn.” @Reuters
Collins’s husband, who suffered minor injuries trying to pull the deer away, told 9News Australia that he “never saw it coming.” “He was her baby,” he said. “She fed him every morning, scratched his ears. I still can’t believe it.”
Authorities have warned against keeping large or exotic animals as domestic pets. “We understand people want to care for wildlife,” said Inspector Murphy. “But these are powerful animals capable of inflicting fatal injuries. No matter how tame they seem, they’re not meant to live in human environments.”
Local residents say they had occasionally seen the deer wandering freely around the couple’s property, but no one reported aggressive behavior before the attack. “He was huge, though,” said neighbor Julie Matthews. “You could hear him stomping through the brush. Margaret always said, ‘Oh, he’s just saying hello.’”
The tragedy has reignited debate over private ownership of wild animals in rural areas. Under Queensland law, keeping deer as pets is legal in some regions, though experts have long warned it can be dangerous — particularly during the rutting season. “You’re dealing with 150 kilos of raw muscle and instinct,” said Sydney Morning Herald wildlife correspondent Tom Spencer. “Even professionals use caution when handling adult stags. A single charge can be lethal.”
“Experts warn the tragic case in Queensland highlights dangers of raising wild deer as pets.” @abcnews
Photos shared by friends show Collins smiling beside the deer during happier times — feeding it from her hand, wrapping a Christmas garland around its neck. “She thought love could tame anything,” one neighbor wrote on Facebook. “But nature doesn’t work that way.”
Wildlife groups across Australia have since issued new warnings, urging residents not to attempt raising deer, kangaroos, or other large wild species without permits. “We understand the emotional instinct to help an injured animal,” said RSPCA Queensland in a public statement. “But without proper facilities and training, these situations can turn tragic.”
In the small farming community where Collins lived, the mood is somber. Flowers and handwritten notes now line the gate where police removed the deer’s body. One message reads simply: “She loved too much.”
“‘She loved too much.’ — Tributes pour in for the grandmother killed by the deer she rescued and raised.” @people
For those who knew her, Margaret’s death is a devastating reminder that kindness, while beautiful, can sometimes collide with the untamable side of nature. “She wasn’t foolish,” said a family friend. “She just believed love could fix anything. That was her gift — and her tragedy.”
Police say the investigation is closed, and no charges will be filed. “It’s simply a heartbreaking accident,” Inspector Murphy confirmed. “But it’s one the community won’t soon forget.”