Several animals can die due to their own horns in specific circumstances, often because the horns become a liability or contribute to injuries. Here are a few examples:
1. Deer (especially in rutting season)
- Why: Male deer (stags) fight during mating season to establish dominance. Their antlers can lock during combat, preventing them from separating. If they remain entangled, both animals can die from exhaustion, starvation, or predation.
2. Goats
- Why: Aggressive behavior in goats can lead to fatal injuries. Horns may puncture vital areas when fighting. Additionally, domesticated goats can sometimes get their horns stuck in fences or other structures, leading to starvation or predation.
3. Bighorn Sheep
- Why: While rare, the tremendous impact during headbutts can result in brain trauma or neck injuries. If their horns grow abnormally, they can curl into their own skulls, causing injury or death.
4. Cows or Bulls
- Why: Some cows or bulls may accidentally gore themselves while scratching or during fights. Also, horns can get stuck in fences or objects, leading to stress or death if not rescued.
5. Oryx or Antelope Species
- Why: Their long, sharp horns can accidentally injure themselves if they trip or fall during fights or flights from predators. Fatal injuries can occur if a horn punctures a vital area.
6. Rhinoceros
- Why: Rarely, a rhino may impale itself on its own horn during a fall or in combat with another rhino.
7. Ibex
- Why: Ibexes can get their horns entangled during fights, similar to deer. This can lead to injury or death due to exhaustion or inability to escape predators.
8. Buffalo
- Why: Their horns can grow in a way that obstructs vision or movement, especially in cases of disease or malformation, leading to accidents or vulnerability to predators.
In many of these cases, the danger arises from the primary function of the horns—fighting, defense, or dominance displays—and the potential for entanglement, injury, or structural vulnerability. Evolution balances these risks against the advantages horns provide in mating success and survival.