'Fearless' Steuben County firefighters rescue deer that fell

Volunteer firefighters don’t just save human lives and property. They also rescue wildlife when called upon.

A sterling example happened earlier this month, when the Perkinsville Fearless Hook and Ladder Co. 1904 saved a whitetail deer that had fallen through the ice and was struggling to stay afloat on Loon Lake.

Onlookers spotted the doe sometime after it plunged through the ice on the morning of Jan. 6.

Perkinsville firefighters were dispatched to the scene shortly after 9:30 a.m.

“While not our typical call for service, we answered the call,” Perkinsville Fearless said in a Facebook post.

A deer recovers after falling through the ice at Loon Lake. The Perkinsville Fearless Hook and Ladder Co. rescued the whitetail from the lake on Jan. 6, 2025.

The fire company said the deer was in about eight feet of water, standing on its hind legs to keep its head above the surface.

Perkinsville Capt. Joseph Gettys geared up, went into the lake and was able to get the deer safely to shore, where the Cohocton Valley Ambulance Service had several blankets waiting to dry and warm the animal.

The deer seems to have survived the ordeal. The rescue team said she was last seen resting and alert on dry land.

According to the New York state Department of Conservation, whitetail deer can struggle on bare ice because their hooves can’t get traction.

Perkinsville Fearless Hook and Ladder Co. Capt. Joseph Gettys retrieves a whitetail deer that fell through the ice at Loon Lake on Jan. 6, 2025.

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While deer can swim, they may struggle exiting an ice-covered pond, lake or river. If a deer falls through the ice in New York, individuals can contact the nearest DEC Regional Wild l ife Office for guidance.

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This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Perkinsville firefighters rescue deer that fell through icy Loon Lake

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