This beach visitor certainly wasn’t afraid to make waves.
A white-tailed deer was captured sprinting along Rockaway Beach last week, according to a video shared on Facebook Saturday.
With mating season for white-tailed deer running from mid-October through December and reaching its peak around mid-November, the buck may have been displaying his antlers while searching for a mate—the animal equivalent of heading to the shore in hopes of finding a doe-eyed companion.
Facebook users quickly fell in love with the unexpected beach appearance. Many gave the deer the nickname “Rocky,” while another commenter joked that the “Bucks are in town to play the Knicks.”
Others connected the sighting to the approaching holiday season, with comments including “Rudolph is a little early” and “Dashing through the sand.”
Deer sightings are not unusual in New York City, though the animals are most commonly found in the city’s greener sections, including The Bronx and Staten Island, according to city officials.
Known for their strength, speed and swimming ability, deer can travel considerable distances through open water to reach the city’s islands and peninsulas. They are also frequently spotted on nearby Nassau County barrier islands, including Barnum Island and Jones Beach Island.
City officials urge New Yorkers to keep their distance from deer and never feed them.
The Post contacted the NYC Parks Department for comment.
Deer are linked to as many as 70,000 motor vehicle crashes across New York each year, with nearly half taking place during mating season.
