West Metro Fire Rescue crews have plucked ducks from storm drains, freed owls tangled in trees by fishing line and pulled dogs from icy ponds.
But they faced a bigger challenge on Sunday, when they rescued a 4- to 5-year-old deer stuck in ice and frigid water at Lakewood’s Main Reservoir.
Lakewood Animal Control officer Jason Gerlach said a predator, most likely a coyote, chased the deer out on the ice that couldn’t support his weight. The buck was able to stand in the water, but was cold, tired and unable to free itself.
An alert walker notified West Metro Fire Rescue to the deer’s dire situation.
Ronda Scholting, department spokeswoman, said a rescuer broke a path through ice to the deer before hooking a lasso (usually used to corral dogs) around its antlers. The hardest part was getting the deer turned around and headed back to shore, Scholting said.
Dominick and Mercedes Von Pichl, showed up for their daily walk around the reservoir and witnessed the rescue, which Dominick Von Pichl filmed and shared with West Metro Fire Rescue. “We’ve got amazing first responders,” he said.
After rescuers got the deer back on dry land, animal control officers wrapped him in blankets and put him in the back of their van, Gerlach said. The deer was exhausted and hypothermic. It took about three hours to warm him up before he was released, Gerlach said.
Scholting said the rescue should serve as a warning to stay off the ice. “Ice is just not safe this time of year,” she said. “If a deer can fall through, you can fall through.”
