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Gilbert residents alarmed after blow darts found at Riparian Preserve

Posted at 9:06 PM, Mar 08, 2019
and last updated 2019-03-11 21:01:23-04

GILBERT, AZ — For several concerned residents, the question is who is doing it and why?

Multiple people told ABC15 they have found blow darts at the Riparian Preserve in Gilbert in recent weeks.

"In the natural dry foliage, it was just laying there," said Donna Malkin, who says earlier this week she found a dart with a blade or arrow attached to the top.

Malkin is not only concerned for the safety of animals, but for children who may find one of the sharp darts and pick it up, or others who may find themselves on the receiving end.

"It would pierce flesh, definitely," she said.

Another man, Dick Burgess, told ABC15 he found a rabbit with a dart piercing a part of its skin at the preserve last month. He took a picture that shows the apparent dart near the top of the rabbit's head.

"This is a nature preserve," Burgess said. "It's just cruelty to animals."

Gilbert officials say there are two reported findings of darts in the Preserve since the end of February. They also confirmed the report of someone seeing an animal that had been hit with a dart.

Park Rangers and Gilbert police are now on the lookout for whoever is shooting the darts.

"It is prohibited for people to harass, injure, harm or take any of the wildlife in there," said Park Ranger Supervisor Jody Becker.

Becker told ABC15 the person or people responsible for shooting the darts could be kids around 11 or 12-years-old, based on a description provided by someone who visited the preserve.

"Our preserve residents, our preserve regulars, our preserve visitors, they're all at risk of suffering injury from those devices," Becker said.

"Park Rangers are aware of these citizen reports and have been proactively patrolling the Preserve on foot in an effort to deter any further incidents. Additionally, the Police Department has also been informed of the incidents and is increasing visibility in the Preserve," officials said.

Burgess hopes whoever is responsible for the darts stops.

"I hope that somebody sees that picture and recognizes those darts and thinks, 'hey my buddy's got a dart gun like this, or my child has a blow dart thing like that. I recognize those things and will talk to them and stop this,'" he said.

Becker said a citation could cost the person responsible more than $200. She says photographers, who often frequent the preserve, have also been given a heads up to be on the lookout.

Anyone with information is asked to call the following numbers:

  • Police Non-Emergency: 480-503-6500
  • Park Ranger: 480-503-6263 (Press Option 1 at any time during recording to be connected)