What Are Not Deer? Supernatural & Scientific Theories

You’re driving down a dark road at night when suddenly, a deer appears in the middle of the road. But… deer don’t look like that, do they? If you’ve ever encountered a deer that seems “wrong,” you may have seen a not deer. These cryptids mimic deer but don’t look or act quite right. But if they’re not deer, what are they? We partnered with a folklore expert to help us explain what not deer are, where they come from, reported encounters with them, and more.

The Not Deer Cryptid Explained

Folklore expert Sydney Bermudez says “not deer” are Appalachian cryptids that resemble deer at first, but there’s something “off” about them. They look and act strangely, often reported as having forward-facing eyes or walking on their hind legs. Many report feeling a sense of dread when near them.

Section 1 of 8:

What is a not deer?

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Not deer are cryptids that mimic real deer. Bermudez says, “Not deer are modern cryptids from Appalachian folklore that resemble deer at first glance, but people claim something about them feels ‘off.’”^{[1]
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Expert Source

Sydney Bermudez
Folklore Expert

Expert Interview} It’s often hard to pinpoint exactly what’s different, but there’s typically something strange or off-putting about their appearance or behavior. Those who have encountered them often claim that being around the creature fills you with a sense of dread.^{[2]
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- The not deer are closely associated with Appalachian folklore, though they’ve been spotted in woodland areas all over the United States (and sometimes in other countries). Many reports come from Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.^{[3]
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- Not deer are frequently discussed on social media sites like TikTok. For example, in this video by @sarebearrr_, she explains that the closer you get to a not deer, “the more things that you start to see wrong with it.” She adds that most people encounter not deer on dark, rural roads at night.
- Not deer may have eyes in the front of their head rather than the sides, or they may walk on their hind legs rather than all four.
- There haven’t been any reports of not deer attacking people, so it’s unclear if they’re dangerous or not.
Meet the wikiHow Expert

Sydney Bermudez is a folklore expert and horror content creator. She has over 400,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram, where she explores how horror intersects with pop culture, social media, and modern myths.

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Not Deer Appearance & Behavior

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Not deer resemble regular deer with abnormal features. When seen from afar, not deer can pass for real deer. However, when you examine them more closely, there’s something “off” about their features. Bermudez says, “Witnesses often describe unnatural movements, human-like eyes, distorted limbs, strange behavior, or an eerie feeling when encountering them at night.”^{[4]
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Sydney Bermudez
Folklore Expert

Expert Interview} Often, it’s hard to figure out exactly what’s different about them.^{[5]
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- Bermudez says that the fear around not deer “mainly comes from the uncanny valley effect. They look almost normal, but not quite.”^{[6]
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  Sydney Bermudez
  Folklore Expert
  
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While real deer are skittish and typically run from humans, not deer often approach them. They may act bold or aggressive. Some reports claim that not deer walk on their hind legs or let out terrifying screams. Others move clumsily, like newborn fawns.^{[7]
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Not Deer Origins

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The not deer is a modern legend with ties to Appalachian folklore. Unlike many cryptids and folktales, the legend of the not deer hasn’t been around for centuries. It first popped up around 2018 and gained popularity on social media sites like TikTok, Reddit, and Tumblr.^{[8]
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- This isn’t to say that people couldn’t have encountered not deer before then, but if they did, the stories weren’t widely spread. However, many people who live in Appalachia have said that they’d never heard of such stories until they became popular online.
- Not deer have mostly been sighted in Appalachia, though people claim to have seen them in any areas where deer live.

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Reported Encounters with Not Deer

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In December 2021, a not deer was reportedly sighted in Albany, New York. Reddit user @squamx shared images of a deer with strange, light-colored eyes. User @phantom_eight replied to the post, saying, “I asked my rural friend from out in the sticks of Greene County and he says ‘That’s what they call a not deer.’ ‘WTF is a not deer?’ ‘That is another creature taking on the appearance of a deer.’”
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2012 sighting In the r/Hunting subreddit, user @kilroydacat shared a post describing a strange encounter with a deer. He explains that he shot a doe, but when he walked over to it, he began to feel paranoid, like an “ominous presence” was watching him. He felt like he’d become the deer, and when he killed the deer, the feeling completely vanished.
- It’s worth noting that neither the original poster nor any of the commenters mentions not deer, but people who are familiar with not deer think this could have been an encounter.
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2016 sighting In 2016, user @cgan shared a story to the r/Cryptozoology subreddit, explaining an encounter with strange, deer-like creatures that could have been Wendigos. The deer “had all grey fur, long dark almond-shaped eyes that stared intently, [and] their antlers were two long jagged horns protruding straight out from their skull.” The user’s grandmother took photos of them, but they didn’t show up in the pictures.
- The original poster stated that they originally shared the story in the r/nosleep subreddit, which is dedicated to fictional stories, so this encounter may not be true. Still, who’s to know for sure?
In 2018, user @TheStormbrewer posted on the r/Paranormal subreddit, sharing a supposed encounter with a screaming deer. The user noted that they were sitting around a campfire with their friends when “all of a sudden we heard a strange screaming noise. The screams were shrill and came in consecutive one-to-two second bursts.” The noise got louder, and a deer ran into their campsite, hopping on its hind legs. The user notes, “The look of pure terror in its eyes reflected in the firelight will haunt me forever.”
Not deer aren’t exclusive to the United States. In the 4/BackwoodsCreepy subreddit, user @Godzylaaa98 wrote about their encounter with a “deer thing” in Serbia. They say that a deer came out of the woods and stood in front of them: “Something was really off about this deer… Its eyes looked lifeless, and its aura was that of uneasiness. Then it opened its mouth to show multiple rows of what looked to be razor-sharp teeth and made an ear-shattering scream.”

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Supernatural Theories & Scientific Explanations

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The most prominent supernatural explanation is that not deer are actually spirits, demons, or even aliens that have disguised themselves as deer or possessed deer, which is why they never look or act quite “right.” Some people equate them with Native American legends of skinwalkers or the Wendigo.^{[9]
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Others believe they’re just sick deer. Not everyone believes not deer are actually supernatural. The scientific explanation is that not deer are regular deer with diseases. The most notable theory is that of Chronic Wasting Disease, which is also known as Zombie Deer Syndrome. Deer with this disease often suffer from weight loss, become less fearful of humans, and exhibit odd behaviors, like tremors, stumbling, and drooling.^{[10]
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services

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- Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease is another possible explanation, as it makes deer clumsy and gives their head, neck, and tongue a swollen appearance.^{[11]
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- If a deer has long-term sinus infections, they may develop Bullwinkle Syndrome, which gives them an unusually large nose, similar to that of a cow.^{[12]
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- Some not deer may actually be cactus bucks, or cryptorchid bucks, which have velvety antlers that grow in odd shapes.^{[13]
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What to Do if You See a Not Deer

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If you encounter a not deer, do not interact. Not deer reportedly cause an intense feeling of dread, and while there have been no reports of an attack, they could be dangerous. If you spot one, stay as far away as possible and try not to draw attention to yourself. If it sees you, maintain eye contact and back away slowly. Leave the area as quickly as possible.
- Even if you don’t believe not deer are supernatural, it’s not a good idea to approach a deer if it looks or behaves strangely. It may be sick or injured, so don’t put yourself in danger by approaching it.

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Not Deer in Pop Culture

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Not deer are featured in many TV shows, video games, and other media. As the legend of the not deer continues to grow in popularity, the mysterious creatures have begun to pop up in various pieces of media and pop culture. Here are some of the most notable examples:^{[14]
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- The not deer are featured in the Roblox game 99 Nights in the Forest and the folk-horror cooking game The Not-Deer Stew. A creature based on the not deer also appeared in a My Singing Monsters fan island.
- The SCP Foundation classifies not deer as SCP 6448.
- A creature similar to the not deer was featured in the “No One Can Hear You” episode of Adventure Time.
- The not deer appears on a trading card in the MetaZoo: Cryptid Nation trading card game.