Aurora Animal Services is asking for the public’s help in finding who is responsible for shooting wild rabbits with blow darts.

A photo provided by Aurora Animal Services shows a wild rabbit with several darts in it. It’s one of at least four rabbits the department said have been shot with darts over the past month. Officials are looking for a suspect in connection with the incidents. Credit: CPR

Animal control officers have taken multiple reports of rabbits hit and injured with darts, according to the City of Aurora. One of the rabbits died. The incidents were reported between July 15 and Aug. 15 near East Glasgow Place and South White Crow Way in the Southlands area, the city said.

“Just because an animal isn’t a traditional pet, doesn’t mean we won’t look out for their wellbeing,” said Animal Control Officer Lucas Barr. “These darts cause internal bleeding as well as infection that can cause severe pain before the animal will succumb to their injuries. Deliberately harming an animal is something our agency takes seriously, and we will investigate it thoroughly.”

Already at the bottom of the food chain, rabbits are having a hard enough summer as it is. A tentacle- and horn-growing virus specific to rabbits, cottontail rabbit papillomavirus, is sweeping through the Front Range this summer. According to Colorado Parks & Wildlife, most rabbits eventually shed the odd-looking growths and survive the virus, but it can be fatal.

Aurora Animal Services says that whoever’s responsible could face charges of animal cruelty and, if convicted, fines and even jail time.

Anyone with information about the incidents or who may be responsible for them is being asked to contact Animal Control dispatch at 303.326.8288, option 6, or email animalprotectiondispatch@auroragov.org. Witnesses are being asked not to contact Aurora police about this.