With the holiday season fast approaching, shopping is no doubt high on everyone’s to-do list. And apparently, that includes some rather unexpected customers — like this curious mother deer who decided to check out the local store herself.

A Scenic Workplace with Wild Neighbors

Lori Jones works at a charming little gift shop located within the Horsetooth Inn and RV Park, a peaceful and picturesque getaway nestled at the base of the Rocky Mountains in Fort Collins, Colorado. Surrounded by nature, the area is no stranger to wildlife — sightings of deer, raccoons, and even the occasional mountain lion are not uncommon.

But despite her familiarity with the region’s fauna, nothing could have prepared Jones for the unique and amusing encounter that unfolded one quiet afternoon.

A Customer With Hooves

Jones was in the middle of a regular shift earlier this week when, out of nowhere, a wild doe calmly appeared in the shop’s doorway. Before she could even process what was happening, the deer stepped confidently into the store, strolling down the aisle like any other curious shopper.

“It was hilarious,” Jones said in an interview with The Dodo. “She was looking at the sunglasses and the chips. I was laughing so hard.”

Not a Complete Stranger

This particular deer wasn’t entirely unfamiliar. Jones recognized her as the matriarch of a local herd known to graze in a nearby field. They occasionally passed by the inn, but never had any of them shown interest in human buildings — let alone walked inside one.

Assuming the deer had simply wandered off course or followed an intriguing scent, Jones gently guided her back outside by tempting her with a peanut bar. The deer willingly followed, and Jones assumed that was the end of her brief shopping adventure.

But she was mistaken.

A Return Visit — With Company

“About 30 minutes later, here comes the deer again — but this time with her whole family,” Jones recalled. “I was in the office doing inventory and came out to find her standing at the door again. This time, she had brought her twins and a young buck she’d apparently adopted.”

The group paused at the doorway, peering curiously into the shop like kids outside a candy store.

“They were just looking in like, ‘Can we come in too?’” Jones laughed. “I told them, ‘No, not today.’ It was so funny. It really felt like something out of a Disney movie.”

A Gentle Goodbye

Though tempted to let them hang around longer, Jones knew it wasn’t wise to encourage wild animals to become too comfortable around humans or buildings. Still, she couldn't resist offering one more peanut bar as a parting gift — a small treat in exchange for their surprising good behavior.

After one final snack, Jones clapped her hands and gently shooed the deer and her family away, watching as they disappeared back into the woods. “Take your children home,” she called out with a smile.

A Moment to Remember

Most of the time, it's the human customers who leave the shop with something special. But on that day, it was Jones who received the gift of a heartwarming, unexpected visit — a brief but magical reminder of the beautiful coexistence between people and nature in the Colorado wilderness.

“It was just a lovely thing to see,” she said. “The wildlife population around here is incredible. We have mountain lions, bighorn sheep, deer, raccoons — you name it. They all have to fend for themselves. That’s nature. But I think they’re all wonderful.”

Though Jones returned to work as usual, she couldn’t stop smiling. In a season focused on giving, it turns out that sometimes, the best surprises come from those who ask for nothing at all.