SIU deer attacks subject of cable TV show Sunday

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The story of deer attacking pedestrians on the Southern Illinois University campus in Carbondale is drawing national attention.

SIU wildlife researcher Clay Nielsen is set to appear Sunday night on an hourlong Discovery Channel program called "When Animals Strike."

The show features a series of segments highlighting unpleasant encounters between humans and animals, and the science behind such things.

Nielsen addresses a series of human-deer encounters at SIU during the summers of 2005 and 2006. That's when a half dozen people required hospital care after being attacked by deer at the school. Several other people were threatened but unharmed.

Nielsen has suspected it was due to fawning season, when deer become keenly protective of their young.