Arrow Successfully Removed From Deer In Monmouth County

Experts have removed an arrow from the muzzle of a deer in Marlboro.

Wildlife experts with the state Division of Fish and Wildlife on Tuesday successfully removed the shaft of the arrow from her muzzle. They left the arrowhead in place because the wound had healed around it and removing it could injure her further, the state said.

According to a news release from the state Division of Fish and Wildlife:

It’s unclear how the arrow had been lodged in the deer, but she has been seen frequently in the Marlboro area since last winter, and the state was notified in December about it.

Wildlife experts, Kim Tinnes, Joseph Burke and George Garbaravage placed corn on private property off Suffolk Way in Marlboro to attract the deer to the area so they could tranquilize her with a dart gun.

A veterinarian, who has experience in wildlife rehabilitation, determined the arrowhead should be left in place.

But by removing the shaft, experts eliminated the risk that it would get caught on branches or other objects.

The experts had tried several times to tranquilize the deer in the winter, but put those attempts on hold in May because she was pregnant and they did not want to risk harming the unborn fawn.

The doe is at least three- or four-years-old. She appears to be in good health and was released back into the wild with her fawn. Her prognosis is very good.

“We thank all of the New Jersey residents and people from all over the world who have expressed concern about the deer, as well as local residents who have been very helpful in providing information on her movements throughout the community and even set up bait stations on their properties,” Division of Fish and Wildlife Director David Chanda said in a prepared statement. “Tracking the whereabouts of any single animal is difficult under any circumstances, and this doe was no exception.”

Photo courtesy state Division of Fish and Wildlife