A deer in Upstate New York was rescued after slippery conditions stranded it on a frozen waterway.
On Dec. 10, members of the Ithaca Fire Department assisted the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in rescuing a deer that had become stuck on the ice along the Cayuga Inlet.
In a video released by the fire department, Firefighter Brandon Cary, wearing ice rescue gear, carefully maneuvered across the frozen surface and secured the deer with a rescue device. Cary pulled the animal to shore, where another firefighter helped guide it back onto solid ground.
Before releasing the deer back into the wild, Cary offered a few gentle pats. The deer was cold but uninjured, the fire department said.
Following the rescue, the Ithaca Fire Department urged the public to use caution around frozen waterways, warning that ice conditions can be unpredictable.
The DEC also advises people to practice ice safety, noting that ice thickness can vary widely on any body of water. Clear, newly formed ice on nonmoving water should be at least 4 inches thick before venturing out. Officials urge extra caution near shorelines, over moving water and in areas where streams flow into or out of lakes and ponds.