Park board confirms death of downtown deer by car on Stanley Park Causeway

The Vancouver park board has issued a news release confirming that a deer reported struck and killed by a car in Stanley Park Sunday (September 13) was the celebrated animal commonly referred to as the "downtown deer".

"The Vancouver Park Board regrets the passing of a deer that moved into Stanley Park this summer," the release reads.

"Around 7:30 pm on Sunday, September 13, police were called to the south end of the Lions Gate Bridge where a deer had been struck and killed by a car....Two cars were damaged."

The bulletin quoted park board biologist Nick Page warning that some wildlife, after repeated contact with people, can become dependent upon humans.

"The deer had become habituated to people feeding and petting it. I want to emphasize how important it is for people to maintain an appropriate distance from wildlife such as deer, raccoons and coyotes."

The board went on to say that the animal "would have either become a problem somewhere else or died due to being unable to fend for itself" if it had been removed from the park and released into the wild.

"Once again, we remind people that this is exactly the kind of tragedy that often occurs when wildlife become habituated to humans. Please do not touch, feed or take in orphaned fawns or other wildlife."

The deer was first seen in downtown Vancouver in late July and was frequently spotted in Stanley Park soon after.

After rumours began circulating earlier today that the downtown deer was the victim in the reported collision Sunday evening, tributes began to surface on Twitter.