Staff Reports
Columbus firefighters rescued a deer that appeared to be stuck on ice at West Lake on the city’s west side.
They were called to the scene at 10:38 a.m. Saturday after a homeowner saw the deer and notified first responders.
When firefighters arrived, they met with Indiana Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Robert Klakamp, who was monitoring the deer through binoculars, said Capt. Mike Wilson, Columbus Fire Department spokesman.
The deer was about 100 yards out on the ice-covered lake, and appeared to be sitting in a resting position on the ice, Wilson said. It was unclear how long the deer had been there or if it was able to move, Wilson said.
Firefighters used a drone to view the condition of the deer and to see if it would move on its own off the ice, Wilson said. After a quick drone flight over the animal, it was clear that slippery ice conditions prevented the deer from moving on its own, Wilson said.
Firefighters then sent out an ice rescue team in the department’s non-motorized inflatable watercraft, Wilson said. The firefighters wore ice rescue suits and walked the watercraft out to the deer. Using a lasso, firefighters secured the deer to the watercraft and firefighters on shore pulled them all to shore, Wilson said.
Klakamp said that the deer appeared to possibly exhausted, but otherwise healthy. Klakamp said the deer would remain on the shore until it had regained strength to move on its own. Klakamp estimated that the ice on West Lake was approximately 2 to 3 inches thick.
The Columbus Fire Department would like to remind the community to call 911 if a wild animal or domestic pet is on the ice, Wilson said. Firefighters advise residents to never attempt to rescue any animal from the ice, including pets, as the ice conditions may be unsafe, Wilson said.
This incident was the third ice and water rescue call-out for Columbus firefighters within the last eight days, Wilson said.
