CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Deputy in Texas screams as ‘dead’ deer comes back to life

TRINITY COUNTY, Texas (CBS, KYMA) - A sheriff's deputy got the fright of his life when a deer he presumed was dead came back to life during a roadside stop.

Sheriff Woody Wallace of Trinity County, Texas posted the hilarious footage of the encounter.

"Sometimes things can scare the heck out of a person," Sheriff Wallace wrote. "Watch when he encounters what he thinks is a dead deer until it comes back to life!"

"Instead of a citation, the 'suspect' made a four-legged getaway and vanished into the East Texas woods," he added.

The unnamed deputy saw the funny side of the encounter as well; in the footage, he is examining the deer when it springs back into action, causing the deputy to let out a high-pitched scream.

He quickly recovers himself, laughs, and is heard to say, "Okay, we're good!"

After the footage attracted widespread attention, Wallace leaned into the absurd nature of the encounter, posting an "update" on the deer, "for humor only," in which a liquor-swilling raccoon is seen riding a deer.

"Later that same night, [the deer] was reportedly seen providing transportation to a raccoon that had enjoyed one too many cold beverages," Wallace wrote. "The deer is fine. The raccoon's decision-making is still under investigation."