Firefighters Bravely Save Deer Who Fell Through Ice in Minnesota
First responders in Minnesota had to work quickly to save a deer who fell through the ice. A video of the save has since gone viral on TikTok and shows fire crews wading into the frigid waters to help try and get the deer to land.
The news agency shared the video on February 8.
The clip is pretty heartbreaking. It shows one fire crew member in the cold river making their way to the deer, who is trying in vain to swim to shore. Eventually the responder got to the animal, and was able to pick it up and carefully lift it up to stronger ice.
Related: Kind Couple Finds Distressed Mama Duck and Steps in to Save the Day
The deer looks painfully cold and is drenched. It then tries to get itself to shore, but its back legs are numb.
"His back legs hurt. They seem to be pretty frozen up," the fire crew member said in the clip.
"It's trying to get to shore," a man behind the camera added.
But have no fear, as the video's caption states "the deer was eventually able to get up and get back into the wild."
What to Do If You Encounter an Animal in Distress
Thankfully there were fire crews there to save this little guy. But what should a layperson do when they come across an animal struggling in the wild?
First, take stock of the tools that you have on-hand. Things like a cat carrier, leash, towel or blanket, gloves, gauze bandages, and pet food can come in handy when dealing with an animal in distress.
Be mindful that all animals, either domestic or wild, will be afraid of humans when hurt or dying. So you want to be extra-gentle when approaching them. Move slowly and quietly while staying as low as you can to the ground.
Try and avoid eye contact, as many animals will find that to be threatening. If it's a cat or dog, talk softly. If you're dealing with wildlife, again try to be as quiet as possible.
If you're coming over to a hurt animal, make sure you take all the supplies you need with you so you don't have to come back for a second time. If you're getting out of a car put your hazards on, grab the supplies, and then quietly close the door before making your way over to the animal.
Then call your local animal control agency or wildlife rehabilitation center. They can either meet you and take over or will ask you to drop the animal off. Don't try and care for the animal yourself. It's better to leave care to experts who have training.
The most important thing is to stay calm. If it seems like the animal is going to get aggressive, keep your distance. It's important that both you and your animal feel safe.
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