'King of Carson' determined to have died from natural causes at the age of 11; will be mounted in Carson City
The King of Carson passed away in a backyard on Roop Street on Sept. 8, and at first it was believed that some form of foul play had taken the King's life, whether from being struck by a car or poisoned by a rival deer who wanted to take the throne.
However, according to Game Warden Jake Kreamer, a necropsy, or animal autopsy, shows that the King most likely died of natural causes associated with blood loss from shedding his velvet.
The King was in the process of shedding, and had strips of velvet still hanging from the area of his antlers. Kreamer said when the velvet was removed, the area bled profusely. Blood was also found near the scene, and this was determined to have been not from an accident but from the natural velvet stripping process.
Kreamer also said that there were some small signs of trauma, and that it's possible he had gotten into a fight with another deer, but that it was not the cause of death.
It was also determined that the King was older than previously thought, and his age was placed at 11 years.
Kreamer said that a taxidermist came to do a "cape," which is a removal of the skin, and the King will be turned into a shoulder mount and will be proudly displayed somewhere in Carson City. The exact location is not known at this time.