Stories about deer getting stuck in string lights, netting, and other yard items are common, but a recent incident involved a deer in a more painful predicament.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) says a wildlife officer recently swooped in to help a fawn covered in cholla cactus spines. According to a news release from the agency, the incident happened in Chloride, Arizona, and was reported by a resident who regularly sees the deer in their yard.

Kingman-based wildlife officer Troy Moody responded, and, upon arrival, found hundreds of spines on the little fawn’s body. That included many on its eyelids, nose, and mouth, which were preventing it from eating or drinking. A photo from AZGFD shows just how much coverage there was, with clumps on the animal’s front leg, chest, and side, along with very visible spines all around its mouth and practically covering one eye.

Moody got to work, giving the fawn a drug to immobilize it and then picking the spines out, as the mother watched nearby. Another photo shows just how many were removed, with a sizable pile in a bucket. A third photo shows the fawn free from the spines, though, as they were all successfully removed.

Moody says, “Thankfully no cholla had entered the fawn’s eye and there was no lasting injury. I was able to reverse the drug and the fawn quickly woke up and joined its mother that had been patiently waiting nearby.”

AZGFD Kingman Regional Supervisor Karen Klima added, “AZGFD is proud of Officer Moody for putting his own comfort aside and going the extra mile to make sure that this fawn could return to a normal life. It’s part of the department’s mission to conserve and protect wildlife.”