Firefighters Lasso Deer Stranded In Canal
RANCHO CORDOVA (CBS13) – Sacramento firefighters rescued two deer from a canal, thanks to someone bringing a lasso.
"A lot of times the deer will jump in at some point travel several miles," said Chris Vestal, spokesman for the fire department.
It's not even close to your average firefighter 911 call.
"This was actually a first for me," said Janice Odestig with Sac Metro Fire.
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It was a Rancho Cordova rodeo roundup inside a fenced canal to rein in these tired and thrashing hoofed animals.
"We think the buck was located about 3 miles from where they were first reported," Vestal said.
"Typically they cannot make it out on their own, the canal is very steep on the sides," said Holly Wagner, a firefighter for Sac Metro.
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To the rescue came Sac Metro Fire teamed up with fish and wildlife by boat.
"When we got up to the doe she was very, very tired and came up to our direction almost asking for help," Wagner said.
That help came from an unusual source.
"One of the rangers actually said, 'Hey I have a lasso in my truck,'" Odestig said.
A skill two Sac Metro fire sisters, Wagner and Odestig, wrangled up years ago.
"My dad is a retired fire chief as well as a retired cattle rancher, so we've always had lassos around the house when we were young we would lasso each other, lasso stuff in the backyard," Odestig said.
And just like that, the deer were lassoed and one by one pulled to safety.
"I don't think it was all that fantastic," Odestig chuckled. "But it worked and we were able to get around her neck."
The doe and the buck were sure in luck.
"They're a little bit scraped up, but I think I'm going to be just fine and they're back where they belong," she said.
Back home somewhere near Lake Natoma.
Now nobody knows exactly how the two fell in, but say it was likely an accident or perhaps a love quarrel, hoping the two can still be friends.
"We don't know if they've spoken to each other since they fell in, but we hope the doe and the buck are on speaking terms later today," Vestal said.
Either way, it's fair to say the deer will stay clear of any slippery slopes.
The Sac Metro fire sisters say a lasso will definitely be a tool they will be adding to their trucks.