The Wellesley Fire Department on Friday morning rescued a deer stuck on the ice at Lake Waban, and following the roughly hour-long rescue, the animal was transferred to the town’s animal control officer for monitoring. A person walking the trails called in about the deer’s predicament.
Fire Chief Steve Mortarelli said emergency personnel had to walk a ways in to the lake from 99 Pond Rd. to locate the distressed deer, toward the Rte. 16 side of the lake about 40 yards out.
Fire personnel axed through ice to get to the deer, which was having trouble with traction and was exhausted. They used a catch pole to get ahold of the deer and help it up a steep embankment.
As might be obvious, the partially icy lake is not safe to traverse.
(Whether the deer chose to cross the ice so as not to trespass on the now closed section of the Lake Waban trail we cannot say.)
Fortunately, the Fire Department has yet to deal with any dog or owner rescues in area bodies of water, but it’s early in the season.
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Thank you, Wellesley Fire Department! And our animal control officer. Heroes all.