Deer rescued from icy lake in British Columbia

Attacked by a coyote and then stranded on ice, this was certainly one lucky buck.

The young mule deer was spotted on Skaha Lake in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley on Saturday morning.

That’s when conservation officers — and firefighters — stepped in to help.

The deer was injured and stuck way out on the ice of Skaha Lake. BCCOService/Twitter

“Its tail was bitten off,” the B.C. Conservation Officer Service tweeted. “The deer had likely been chased by a coyote, which was spotted.”

The Penticton and Okanagan Falls Fire Departments were also called in.

It takes a village to rescue a deer. BCCOService/Twitter

The deer was brought to shore.

Safe and mostly sound. BCCOService/Twitter

And, its injuries were checked out.

Fortunately, the injuries weren’t critical and the animal was exhausted.

But the deer was set free — banged up and minus a tail, but otherwise, fine.

Oh, deer. BCCOService/Twitter

The firefighters union applauded its members.

“B Company doing some wildlife a solid,” IAFF Local 1399 tweeted. “For the last few years this has happened most winters. Thanks to those for Calling the Conservation Officers.”
B Company doing some wildlife a solid. For the last few years this has happened most winters. Thanks to those for Calling the Conservation Officers and for the help from OK Falls. https://t.co/8Bp2XthRrC

Photos B.C. Conservation Officer Service/Twitter

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Recovering newspaper reporter.

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