News Summary
A shocking discovery of a decapitated baby deer in San Antonio’s Marymont Park has alarmed residents. The incident, reported by a local woman, suggests potential foul play. This case is part of a worrying trend, with similar incidents in New Braunfels raising fears of poaching activities. Local wildlife authorities urge citizens to report suspected poaching while emphasizing the need for community vigilance to protect local wildlife. Experts highlight that unlawful activities jeopardize animal populations, despite recent regulations aimed at managing deer health.
San Antonio – A disturbing discovery was made in the Marymont Park neighborhood when a local resident reported finding a decapitated baby deer during her morning walk. The woman, identified as Marina, noticed the headless fawn after it attracted the attention of her neighbor’s dog. She described the sight as extremely upsetting and felt compelled to document the incident as evidence of possible foul play. The condition of the fawn’s neck indicated a clean cut, raising suspicions of human involvement rather than natural causes.
After the grim find, Marina promptly contacted the city’s non-emergency line (311), which led her to the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) and later to Animal Care Services. There was assurance that the deer’s head would be collected within a window of 24 to 48 hours. However, when reporters arrived on the scene later that day, the head was no longer present.
This incident is not an isolated one. In New Braunfels, two additional cases of decapitated deer have been reported, alongside a separate incident where a buck was found shot and left for dead. Due to the nature of these discoveries, authorities are concerned about potential poaching activities in the area.
According to Texas Parks & Wildlife (TPWD), there have been no reported complaints regarding poaching in the region, making it difficult to determine the cause of death based solely on photographs. They acknowledged that the peak fawning season can result in fawns being more susceptible to vehicle collisions or predators; however, the unusual nature of decapitation raises significant red flags.
Local residents are increasingly alarmed by these incidents. Marina expressed concern that such acts of animal cruelty could escalate, suggesting a potential danger to human safety. She emphasized the importance of addressing these issues collectively to prevent further incidents.
TPWD has urged citizens to report any suspected poaching to the game wardens. In a related note, a recent report revealed that Texas Parks and Wildlife had uncovered illegal hunting and deer breeding operations, leading to nearly 1,200 charges against 22 individuals for various violations. These included unlawful transport of wildlife and falsification of records. The rising incidents of poaching have prompted the state agency to increase scrutiny and take further steps to enforce wildlife regulations.
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) also remains a significant concern for deer populations if not properly monitored. In light of recent investigations, new laws have been enacted requiring hunters to pay fees to participate in a managed deer program. Additional regulations for carcass disposal are now in place to prevent the transmission of diseases among wildlife.
Despite the alarming incidents, experts suggest that habitat expansion and favorable growth conditions this season may lead to an unusually high survival rate for fawns, reflecting positively on the health of Texas’ deer population. However, unlawful activities such as poaching put that stability at risk and increase the need for community vigilance.
As the San Antonio community navigates these unsettling discoveries, collaboration with wildlife authorities becomes essential to safeguard local wildlife and uphold regulations designed to protect these animals.
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Additional Resources
- News4 San Antonio
- Wikipedia: Deer hunting
- Express News
- Google Search: Texas deer hunting
- KENS 5
- Google Scholar: Deer poaching
- Texas Monthly
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Deer poaching
- North American Whitetail
- Google News: Texas hunting poaching
Author: STAFF HERE SAN ANTONIO WRITER
The SAN ANTONIO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESanAntonio.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in San Antonio, Bexar County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Fiesta San Antonio, San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, and Dia de los Muertos. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County, plus leading businesses in retail, insurance, and energy that power the local economy such as H-E-B, USAA, and Valero Energy. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HERECollegeStation.com, HEREDallas.com, and HEREHouston.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
