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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
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Deer rescued from icy lake

A deer is rescued Friday on Deer Lake by the Spokane Water Rescue Team. The deer was approximately 100 yards from shore in the icy waters when Keith and Debbie Ferguson called authorities. Water rescue team members were able to save the deer within moments of their arrival. (Courtesy of Keith and Debbie Ferguson / The Spokesman-Review)
From Staff Reports The Spokesman-Review
A deer is rescued Friday on Deer Lake by the Spokane Water Rescue Team. The deer was approximately 100 yards from shore in the icy waters when Keith and Debbie Ferguson called authorities. Water rescue team members were able to save the deer within moments of their arrival. (Courtesy of Keith and Debbie Ferguson / The Spokesman-Review)

The Spokane Water Rescue Team saved a young deer from a chilly death Friday morning after the animal fell through the ice at Deer Lake in Stevens County.

A woman who saw the animal fall called for help, said Tom Mattern, deputy director of Spokane city/county emergency management.

The Spokane Water Rescue Team does about two animal rescues a year.

“There are two reasons why we do it,” Mattern said. “One is practice. You use the same basic techniques to save an animal as you do a human.

“The second is if we don’t respond, some humans are going to try and save the animal themselves, and we’ll end up having to save them.”

Mattern said the yearling was fairly cooperative.

When they pulled it out, the animal was lethargic at first, and then it ran off into the woods.