(15/P72) TRENTON – Wildlife experts with the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife this morning successfully removed an arrow that has been protruding from the muzzle of a female deer that has been seen frequently in the Marlboro area since last winter.

The wildlife experts, Kim Tinnes, Joseph Burke, and George Garbaravage, were able to attract the deer using corn placed at a private property off Suffolk Way in Marlboro. They tranquilized her with a dart gun.

The wildlife experts snipped off the shaft but, upon the recommendation of a veterinarian on scene, left the arrowhead in place. The wound had healed around the arrowhead and trying to remove it could cause further injury, the veterinarian, an experienced wildlife rehabilitator, determined.

Removal of the shaft will alleviate the risk of the deer becoming snagged on branches or other protruding objects, potentially causing the wound to open or any further internal damage. The doe, estimated to be at least three to four years old, appeared in good health and of normal weight and was released back into the wild with her fawn.  Her prognosis for survival is very good.

It’s not clear exactly how long the arrow had been lodged in the deer’s muzzle, but the Division of Fish and Wildlife was notified last December and made numerous attempts to tranquilize it over the winter. Those efforts were put on hold in May because the doe had become pregnant and there was a risk of harming the unborn fawn.

“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,” said Division of Fish and Wildlife Director David Chanda. “Tracking the whereabouts of any single animal is difficult under any circumstances, and this doe was no exception.”