FORT COLLINS, Colo. – An elk calf that was found on the side of the road with a broken leg in Estes Park earlier this month was euthanized by state wildlife officials last week, Denver7 has learned.
Veterinarians made the tough decision to euthanize the calf after it was found that not only did it have a broken leg, it had also suffered a hip dislocation and had indications of being sick before its injuries, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokeswoman Jennifer Churchill.
The 2-week-old calf was rescued from the side of the road in Estes Park by an officer with the Estes Police Department, after wildlife officials got numerous calls reporting the injured animal on the road.
Churchill said earlier in the month the calf would face a tough recovery due to its age, adding that the calf would have difficulty recuperating without its mother’s milk. Officials had hoped to care for the calf for the next several months and bring it back to health.
“Putting down animals is never an easy job for anyone, but what’s best for the animal doesn’t always feel good to us as humans,” Churchill said in a statement. “We encourage everyone to get education about wildlife they may encounter while living in or visiting Colorado."
To learn more about what you can do if you suspect an animal is abandoned or injured, head over to the CPAW’s website.
