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LEXINGTON, Ky.-

Wildlife officials captured a Canada goose that had dined at the Kentucky Horse Park and visited nearby farms after being shot by an arrow.

The goose was spotted Sept. 28 with the arrow protruding from its body. The arrow apparently missed vital organs; the bird was able to swim and fly despite it.

“We’re glad he’s here, where he’s relatively safe,” Cindy Rullman of the Horse Park told the Lexington Herald-Leader. “He’s not as vulnerable to predators here.”

The bird was captured Wednesday afternoon by feeding it pieces of bread loaded with a tranquilizer. After about three hours, it grew drowsy enough to catch.

It was wrapped in a towel and duct tape and taken to a Lexington veterinarian for removal of the arrow and given a round of antibiotics.

State and federal wildlife officials worked together on the capture because Canada geese are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Shooting one out of season can result in a prison sentence, hefty fines or both.

“Whoever shot this bird is a criminal,” Rullman said.

Clay Smitson, a private-lands wildlife biologist for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, said he was optimistic that the goose would be released in a couple of days.

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Information from: Lexington Herald-Leader,