GREELEY, Colo. (KDVR) — A wildlife camera has captured video showing multiple animals with severed or injured limbs, and now there is growing concern about the state of the animals.
Ulli Limpitlaw’s wildlife camera sits in an area right along the Poudre River, and within a month, she said three animals crossed the area, one with a severely injured limb and the other two with missing limbs.
One of the first animals seen on her cameras in early January had a swollen limb.
“I didn’t really say anything or do anything. I mean, animals do get injured. The next time we checked the cameras, there is a raccoon with part of the limb missing, and that got me really concerned because it’s the same camera in the same location and I’e had that camera there for over three years and maybe here and there an animal limping, but nothing like this,” Limpitlaw said.
The following day, she saw a bobcat with another missing limb on the same camera. Hunting bobcats is legal for their fur, and the video was shot during the season.
“I have concerns when things like this, where there’s so much in a row and looks suspicious, I’m thinking there has to be some justice done because there is a lot of suffering going on,” she said.
Leg-hold traps are illegal in Colorado with two exceptions. There is a 30-day agricultural exemption trapping permit issued through Colorado Parks and Wildlife and also a human health and safety trapping exemption permit issued through the appropriate county health department.
Limpitlaw did make a report with Colorado Parks and Wildlife about the injury. The Northeast Regional Representative, Kara Van Hoose, tells us there isn’t much cause for concern.
“I don’t see an overall reason for concern because all animals are still mobile. If an animal is able to move around and eat, they have a better chance for recovery and survival. It’s difficult to say where the injuries in the video came from. We’re not aware of a larger injury problem in the area for wildlife,” she said.
There is a way to report any sick or injured wildlife to CPW by calling 303-291-7227.
