Feb. 2 was a day of action and community cooperation on Osoyoos Lake.
A local resident spotted a deer trapped on the ice in the middle of the lake Sunday morning. She took to Facebook, to spread the word in hopes someone might be able to help the animal.
Within the hour, a group of residents were down at the water coming up with a plan to help the buck.
Adrian Bettenson was one of those who had volunteered to go out onto the frozen lake and rescue the deer.
鈥淚 have been involved with animal rescues and water rescues before, so I thought I would go down and see if everyone had the right stuff to help,鈥� Bettenson said.
He said that the fire department also attended but believed the buck had broken his leg, therefore they were unable to help with the rescue and advised against going out onto the ice.
But, that wasn鈥檛 about to stop Bettenson, who ran home to get warm clothes and ropes.
鈥淚n my experience, an animal that big following through the ice would need a lot more to break his leg, it would take more than that,鈥� Bettenson explained.
Within the hour, Bettenson was back at the water. He then worked with the group to tie a rope around his chest and start his crawl out onto the ice towards the buck.
鈥淚 got there and I made a loop around him, and I did it three times, and then the third time we were able to get doubled enough so he couldn鈥檛 shake it off. So, then I tighten it up singled back to show and had them pull me back in with him about five feet behind me,鈥� Bettenson said.
A self-described wildlife expert, Bettenson talked to the deer while he was out on the ice looping the rope in an effort to keep the buck relaxed.
鈥淗e was calm after I started talking, but as I first went out there he was sort of scrambling about. But then I talked to him and got the rope around him and we were set,鈥� Bettenson said.
On shore pulling both Bettenson and the deer to safety was a group that included an experienced diver with water rescue knowledge.
Once back on land, the buck was wobbly and weak, with his knees giving out due to the cold.
Bettenson thinks the deer was chased out by a dog and may have been on the ice with its legs in the water for more than 12 hours.
Residents gave the buck some room to walk off the experience, and once he appeared to have his bearings the rescuers watched the animal prance off into an orchard for a rest.
Bettenson said the the buck felt as if it weighed more than 400 pounds.
鈥淭his is why I was glad I had someone on shore with water rescue experience and who had also rescued an animal from the water before, like me. I know how to do it. I am not a professional, but I have done it before.鈥�
The whole rescue took a couple of hours before the deer was able to return to safety in the orchard.
鈥淚t was so nice to see the community come together, bringing ropes and a floatie, to help with this rescue," Bettenson said. "It was nice. It felt good once I saw the deer walk away.鈥�
