Fire Crew Saves Exhausted Deer From Frozen Colorado Lake

When an exhausted deer found itself trapped on the ice in the middle of a Colorado reservoir, firefighters suited up and walked across a frozen lake to bring it home.

On January 13, the Colorado Springs Fire Department responded to Curr Reservoir at the Country Club of Colorado after an injured deer fell through the ice. The animal managed to pull itself out of the water, but the ordeal left it stranded in the middle of the frozen lake with a badly scraped leg.

Two firefighters geared up in full ice rescue equipment and carefully made their way across the ice to reach the frightened animal. Despite the deer's understandable fear, the team managed to secure a rescue harness around it.

In a touching moment captured on video, firetruck driver and engineer Neilsen gently petted the deer to calm it down before the rescue. The team then used a rope to pull the harnessed animal safely back to shore.

Once on solid ground, the deer trotted back into the wild, seemingly no worse for wear despite its icy ordeal.

Sunny's Take

This rescue warmed hearts, but it also served a practical purpose beyond saving one animal's life. The mission gave the fire crew valuable training time with ice rescue equipment and techniques that work the same way when saving human lives.

The Colorado Springs Fire Department thanked Colorado Parks and Wildlife for the partnership. "Teamwork made this rescue possible, and we're grateful for the chance to help one of Colorado's wild residents get a second chance," they wrote.

Sometimes the best training exercises are the ones where everyone goes home safe, including our four-legged neighbors.