ARVADA, Colo — Editor's note: Some readers may find the following images and descriptions disturbing.
Arvada Animal Management is seeking the public's assistance in identifying a shooter after a red fox was discovered with an arrow piercing her neck in a residential neighborhood.
Around 12 p.m. Wednesday, Arvada Animal Management responded to a call about a red fox that had been shot off of Quay Court.
The fox, who is only a few months old, was found in the front yard of a home, with an arrow lodged through her neck.
"She is one lucky fox... At this facility I've never seen anything like that," said Emily Davenport, the wildlife rehabilitator who saved the fox. She described the fox's survival as nothing short of a miracle.
The arrow was almost three feet long, more than four times the width of the young fox.
Officers rushed the animal to the Rocky Mountain Wildlife Alliance for emergency medical care. The wound, estimated to be 1-3 days old, had penetrated her left shoulder and exited through the right side of her neck.
"If she had not been brought in for medical attention, it would have absolutely been detrimental to her life," said Davenport.
The timing of her arrival was not the only miracle. X-rays revealed that the arrow narrowly missed vital tissues, airways, blood vessels, and her spine—any of which could have caused fatal injuries if struck, according to Davenport.
Arvada Animal Management confirmed it was a practice arrow and have taken the pieces Davenport and her team removed as evidence.
"This is a potential poaching case... This was absolutely not an ethical, legal, or lethal shot," Davenport said.
Typically, a hunter ensures that the animal they shoot is dead to prevent unnecessary suffering.
Since the fox was found alive, the individual who shot the arrow could potentially face animal cruelty charges which carry a maximum fine of $5,000, a mandatory minimum fine of $500, and can include up to 18 months of jail time.
"Sometimes people take it upon themselves to harm the animal to try and get them off their property, when really there's a lot of different coexistence methods that we can use to kind of deter animals, wild animals from being on our property," Davenport said.
A few tips Davenport gives for fending away foxes
- Feed dogs and cats indoors to deter foxes.
- Ensure backyard chicken or poultry coops are secure from predators.
- In spring, use loud music or radio at night to deter foxes from denning under decks and in backyards.
- Employ motion sensors or sprinklers to keep foxes out of your yard.
- Place ammonia-soaked rags in den areas to make them uncomfortable and encourage them to move on.
The fox is slowly recovering and is now walking on a slight limp when she is not sleeping. Davenport says it will take roughly six weeks for the fox to fully recover and be ready to be released back into the wild.
People can help the Rocky Mountain Wildlife Alliance, which is a non-profit, cover the cost of this fox's rehabilitation as well as other animals they are rehabilitating at their website.
Arvada Animal Management said they are collaborating with Colorado Parks and Wildlife and are also seeking the public's assistance in identifying the individual responsible. They are asking anyone who recognizes the style of the arrow, knows neighbors with chickens or livestock who have expressed frustration with foxes, or has any relevant information, to contact them at 720-898-6900.
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