Deer with Crossbow Arrow

 

By Jai Longhurst

 

Bobcaygeon is a 3-hour drive from Rosseau. Traveling that distance on our extremely limited budget is impossible especially with 85 orphaned bear cubs to release in June. But this was an emergency. A call came in from a very concerned Elaine Fritz. A deer had appeared in her back yard with an arrow protruding from her shoulder. She was favoring the leg and with the pictures and research she has done, it was certain that the arrow was from a crossbow.

With much discussion on the factors involved in such a rescue we were able to set up a day. We had to make sure that the deer was coming on a regular basis so not to waste a trip. 7 am was the consistent hour and with the arrangements to have a vet from Bobcaygeon to remove the arrow once Ben tranquillized the doe, the trip and adventure was scheduled. Of course weather is a factor as well especially during the winter months but fate shone on us that day and gave us the perfect conditions. Ben arrived at the Fritz residents to find that the deer had arrived early but in the time he needed to set up the deer were still loitering around the yard. Luckily the doe in question was only 8 feet from the house and in no time she was enjoying a comfortable snooze. Ben and the vet worked quickly to remove the arrow, sow up the wound and inject an antibiotic. During the winter months with the cold the risk of infection is very low. The trip was a success. Ben was eager to see if Elaine had called by the time he returned back to the Sanctuary. Good news! The doe was standing and eating at the side of her house as if nothing had happened. We have been in contact with Elaine since and she still has the doe arrive in the early morning with her herd boasting a shaved naked shoulder patch and a fancy blue ear tag.