“Oh, Deer!”: Buck Runs into Apple Valley Target, Leaves Shoppers in Shock
APPLE VALLEY, MINNESOTA – A surprising series of events unfolded in Apple Valley on Thursday afternoon when a buck was spotted running across Cedar Avenue, near County Road 42, at approximately 1:40 PM. Erica Jean tells us the buck jumped over the passenger side of her car and into the driver’s side of another vehicle that was next to her at the light at Cedar Avenue and County Road 42, shattering both the windows on the driver’s side of the vehicle next to her. You can see a photograph of Erica’s car below, along with a photo from Lucas Bauer of the buck crossing Cedar Avenue going west just south of 147th Street before the deer ran back toward the intersection of Cedar Avenue and County Road 42.
Around 1:45 PM, the Apple Valley Police Department says they received several 911 phone calls about a deer in the Target Store off Cedar Avenue. Molly Page, whose photo you can see below, said the buck went past the front doors at Target, which activated the motion sensor doors and opened them, allowing the deer to run into the store. From there, it was reported that the buck proceeded to go down the main aisle, traveling between the grocery and pharmacy areas toward the freezers in the back. According to the Apple Valley Police, Target staff did an amazing job helping guide the buck into the back storage area of the store until Apple Valley Officers and animal control could arrive. It was reported that it was around an 8-point buck.
According to the Apple Valley Police Department, they learned quickly that the deer was severely injured following the collision with the two vehicles at the intersection of Cedar Avenue and County Road 42. While the animal was contained in the back, the buck did present first responders and the Target staff with a considerable risk due to its antlers and agitated state. Due to this, it was decided that the buck would need to be humanly euthanized at the scene with the assistance of the veterinary staff from the Minnesota Zoo.
The Apple Valley Police Department confirmed that, thankfully, no one was injured as the frightened deer ran through the store.
Written by: Will Wight