Deer rescued after falling through ice on frozen lake in Pennsylvania

Jan. 19 (UPI) -- A deer that fell through the ice of a Pennsylvania lake was rescued by officials who donned cold water suits to venture into the frigid water.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission said in a Facebook post that Game Lands Maintenance Worker Joshua Butz was at the Army Corps of Engineers' Blue Marsh Reservoir in Berks County on Saturday when he spotted a doe that had apparently fallen through a thin section of ice.

Rescuers from the Army Corps of Engineers and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission donned cold water survival suits and ventured out in a canoe to rescue the deer.

"Pennsylvania Game Commission and Army Corps of Engineers staff on the shore held onto rescue lines that were fastened to both of the men in the canoe. The Mount Pleasant Fire Company was also present in case any other rescue equipment was needed," the Facebook post said.

The rescuers used ice picks to break up the frozen surface and create a path for the deer to swim back to shore.

"With a little help from these passionate wildlife supporters, the deer was able to run off into the state game lands surrounding the icy reservoir," the Facebook post said.