Arizona game warden pulls hundreds of cactus spines from fawn, as mom looks on

The Arizona Game and Fish hotline recently received a call from a woman who was worried for a fawn she says visits her property in Mohave County almost daily. But this time, she reported that he showed up covered in hundreds of cholla cactus spines.

Troy Moody, a game warden with the state, said he knew to expect a tricky, delicate job ahead when he arrived.

After sedating it, he could see past the whole pieces stuck to and through parts of the fawn.

“There were still hundreds of spines throughout its leg that you couldn't see that were within the fur,” Moody recalled.

He removed the spines with a comb, a pair of pliers and his bare hands.

Arizona Game and Fish Department

“All in all it was probably 45 minutes, maybe a little more,” said Moody. “Just being very careful, very delicate. And, like, I had to lay down on the ground next to it at times because I just couldn't get a close enough view like when I was working on his eye. I was laying down right next to it, probably within a foot of its face.”

Moody said he was able to watch the young buck and its mother reunite within minutes.

“One thing I always tell people about,” he said, “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.”

Moody said he hopes more people will call the state Game and Fish reporting hotline about animal sightings or behaviors.