On Nov. 29, Cornwall Borough Police reported an unusually tame, antlerless male deer on a business property in West Cornwall Township that had been spray‑painted fluorescent orange with the word PET. The deer lingered about 45 minutes and ignored police sirens before leaving on its own. State Game Warden Salsgiver suggested it may have been an escaped pet and reminded residents that keeping deer is illegal in Pennsylvania. Officials urged the public not to approach wild deer and to report sightings to the Pennsylvania Game Commission at (833) 742‑4868.
Tame Deer With 'PET' Spray‑Painted On Its Sides Spotted In Pennsylvania — Game Warden Issues Warning
Tame Deer With 'PET' Spray‑Painted On Its Sides Spotted In Pennsylvania
The Cornwall Borough Police Department in Pennsylvania responded on Saturday, Nov. 29 after a business in West Cornwall Township reported an unusually tame deer trespassing on the property.
Officers described the animal as "a very friendly antlerless male deer" that remained calm around people and vehicles. The department posted photographs showing the small deer close to the photographer and police vehicles, with bright fluorescent orange paint reading PET on both flanks.
"The deer was spray‑painted on both sides of his body with fluorescent orange paint [with] the word 'PET.' He had no fear of anyone that was around and acted like it wanted the on‑scene officer to pet it," the Cornwall Borough Police Department wrote on Facebook.
The deer lingered on the property for about 45 minutes before walking off on its own. Officers did not pursue the animal and noted it showed no reaction when a police cruiser on scene activated its sirens.
State Game Warden Salsgiver responded, filed a report and offered what the department described as the likeliest explanation: the animal may have once been kept as a domestic pet, grown too large, and then been released into the wild. The paint, the warden suggested, may have been applied by the former keeper to make the deer more visible to hunters.
Legal And Safety Reminder
Keeping deer as pets is illegal in Pennsylvania, the warden warned. Officials urged residents not to approach or attempt to tame wild deer — such interactions risk spreading diseases (including chronic wasting disease) and can endanger both people and animals.
The Cornwall Borough Police Department asked anyone with information to contact the Pennsylvania Game Commission at (833) 742‑4868. PEOPLE reached out to the department for additional details but had not received a response by the time of publication.
Similar Reports
Similar sightings occurred in October 2023 in De Soto, Missouri, where a deer marked with the word "pet" and reportedly wearing a collar was photographed by locals. Officials were unable to find that animal when they responded, and Scott Corley of the Missouri Department of Conservation urged residents to keep their distance from wild deer because of disease and welfare concerns.
What To Do If You See A Tame Or Marked Deer: Do not feed, pet, or attempt to capture the animal. Instead, report the sighting to your state wildlife agency or call the Pennsylvania Game Commission at (833) 742‑4868.
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