Woman attacked and seriously injured by doe in Colorado while walking her dog

An unusual attack in Colorado left a woman seriously injured on Wednesday.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is reporting a mule deer doe with two fawns attacked and seriously injured an 85-year-old woman. The woman was walking her dog within the city limits of Craig.

Officers believe the woman and her dog surprised the animal, "leading to an unusually aggressive response" by the doe.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife say doe attacks are rare, but they can happen and they can be serious. Officials add this is especially true if the doe is rearing its young.

At about 8 p.m., nearly four hours after the attack, wildlife officials located the doe and her fawns.

"In accordance with agency policy and due to the doe's extremely aggressive behavior, CPW will put the animal down to protect public safety. The fawns will be taken to a local rehabilitation facility. The doe's carcass will be taken to CPW's Wildlife Health Lab for a full necropsy," Colorado Parks and Wildlife wrote in a release.