KIOWA, Colo.—State wildlife officials on Sunday euthanized a deer that had been pierced in the nose and jaw by a hunter’s arrow.
Officials had hoped to save the 2-year-old female but decided the wound had become too infected when they were finally able to capture her in Elbert County.
The deer’s wound was discovered Monday by resident Marilyn Thornbery. The animal, who had a doe with her, is part of a herd of about 50 deer that sometimes visits her property to drink from a water pail.
Workers with the state Division of Wildlife have been searching and trying to capture the animal since then in hopes of removing the arrow and treating the wound.
At the agency’s request, Lori and Jack Cavanaugh put cracked corn, alfalfa and water in a birdbath on their property to help lure the animal. Wildlife officers shot the deer with a tranquilizer there on Saturday but she was able to get away. They were able to subdue her on Sunday but then decided to shoot the animal.
Some residents who had joined in the search for the deer they nicknamed “Miss Doe” questioned whether wildlife officials were too quick to put the animal down.
“They said they could smell the infection, but they wouldn’t let us get near,” said neighbor Doug Gieseke.
Division spokeswoman Jennifer Churchill said the agency acted in the animal’s best interest.
“The Division of Wildlife does not advocate the suffering of animals,” she said.
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Information from: The Denver Post,
