A fawn crashed through the window of a hardware store Tuesday afternoon, and deer will continue to be a problem in the city this fall, a Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks official said.

Gore’s Hardware, 1201 Openwood St., was not open when the animal struck and shattered the window.

The deer was not seriously injured and fled west on Jackson Street, said Master Sgt. Charlie Gross with MDWFP. Gross said he already has captured several deer this fall from homes in the downtown area.

“I told everyone last year that you might as well get ready because the country’s coming to town,” Gross said.

Loss of natural habitat is driving deer into wooded areas of the city and Vicksburg National Military Park, Gross said.

“I hate to say it, but it’s probably going to get worse,” he said. “When gun season opens they’re going to be looking for serenity.”

Thelma Gaskin was sitting outside her hamburger stand a few doors down from the hardware store when she and her sister saw the fawn run by.

“I see a bunch of them at night on my way to work, but I’ve never seen one run down the street before,” she said.

Gaskin called police when she saw the deer run into the plate glass window.

Deer see in black and white and cannot comprehend reflection well, so the deer was probably scared and seeking an escape route when it struck the window, Gross said.

“She thought she saw open country,” he said.