Caught on cam: Deer rescued from frozen Nanaimo, B.C. lake
A deer that had fallen through the ice-covered Westwood Lake in Nanaimo, B.C. was rescued by firefighters on Tuesday afternoon.
Colleen Tomlin was walking around the lake with her brother around 1:30 p.m. when the pair saw the ice moving on the water.
At a closer look, they realized it was a little head bobbing out of the water.
"At first I thought it was a dog but then realized it was a deer," Tomlin told CTV News on Thursday.
Not knowing who to call, she dialed 911 and the RCMP told her she should contact the BC Conservation Officer Service instead, but the Mountie ended up relaying the message as well.
Within 10 minutes, Tomlin says she could see Nanaimo Fire Rescue’s boat in the water.
The conservation service also responded, and in consultation with the fire department, directed them to try to get the deer to swim back to shore by breaking the ice.
When that didn't work, the firefighters picked up the 100-pound female deer, lifted her onto the boat and drove her back to shore.
"She was pretty frozen, there wasn’t much fight left in her," said Stuart Kenning, assistant chief with Nanaimo Fire Rescue.
"It was amazing, you could hear the little thing at one point kind of do its little 'bleep bleep' thing, but they were so tender," added Tomlin.
The fire department has rescued several people and even dogs from falling through ice, but firefighters admit this is their first-ever deer rescue.
"We try to let nature solve its own problems and stay out of the way, but on this one we thought it would be prudent to intervene," said Kenning.
"We didn't want any people going out onto the ice and trying to rescue the deer themselves," he added.
Once on shore and out of the boat, fire crews wrapped the deer in blankets and towels to get warm.
"[It] sat there for a bit and then walked off and lived a happy life I hope," said Kenning.
It is unclear how the deer ended up on the ice, however, conservation officers told Nanaimo Fire Rescue that sometimes they get spooked by a dog or predator and will head to the water for safety.
Nanaimo Fire Rescue wants to remind everyone that people should contact them or conservation if they see an animal in distress, or if they've seen an animal fall through ice.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Incident on Calgary's Reconciliation Bridge comes to safe resolution
Nearly 20 hours after a man climbed and remained perched on top of the Reconciliation Bridge in downtown Calgary, the situation came to a peaceful resolution.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.