In a heartwarming rescue operation in Mohave County, Arizona, game warden Troy Moody demonstrated exceptional care and patience while helping a young deer in distress. The incident began when a local resident contacted the Arizona Game and Fish hotline about a fawn regularly visiting her property - this time covered in hundreds of painful cholla cactus spines.
Moody, recognizing the delicate nature of the task ahead, carefully sedated the young buck to begin the meticulous removal process. Using a combination of pliers, a comb, and his bare hands, he worked methodically to extract hundreds of spines embedded throughout the fawn's body, including some nearly invisible ones hidden within its fur.
"There were still hundreds of spines throughout its leg that you couldn't see that were within the fur," Moody explained. The careful operation required him to get extremely close to the animal, sometimes lying within a foot of its face to tend to sensitive areas like its eyes.
The entire procedure took approximately 45 minutes, with the fawn's mother watching nearby. Perhaps the most rewarding moment came when the young deer regained consciousness and quickly reunited with its mother.
Reflecting on the experience, Moody shared his philosophy about working with wildlife: "It doesn't matter if it's a wild animal, domestic animal – you never know what to expect. And even wild animals still surprise you."
The successful rescue serves as a reminder of the valuable work performed by game wardens and encourages residents to report wildlife concerns to their local Game and Fish department.