In a continued attempt to save a wounded female deer in Elbert County, Lori and Jack Cavanaugh have opened their home to the Colorado Division of Wildlife.
“I call her Miss Doe,” said Lori Cavanaugh, who lives across the street from where the injured animal was originally reported.
As instructed by the DOW, the couple have put cracked corn, alfalfa and water in their front lawn birdbath for Miss Doe so she can eat without hurting her wounds from a hunting arrow that penetrated her nose, throat and neck last week.
The DOW set up in the Cavanaugh home’s living room early Friday, hoping to get close enough to tranquilize the 2-year-old doe, according to Lori Cavanaugh.
On Saturday, the DOW set up again, this time successfully shooting her twice in the hind areas with tranquilizers, but she was still able to get away.
“We thought we had her. She laid down, then all of the sudden she jumped up and got away again,” said Jack Cavanaugh.
Lori Cavanaugh said Miss Doe is oozing blood near her jaw. She said she has prepared her garage in case Miss Doe is captured and needs treatment right away.
“There’s carpet down there, and we have a ton of blankets ready,” Lori Cavanaugh said, adding a local vet has been on standby to help the hurt animal.
The DOW planned another early day at the Cavanaugh home today to try to save Miss Doe.
Sally S. Ho: 303-954-1638 or sho@denverpost.com
