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Stranded elk sweetwaternow.com

A herd of elk fell through the ice in Palisades Reservoir just outside of Alpine, Wyoming Friday morning, December 29th. Passersby realized about a dozen cows and calf elk were in bad trouble about 60 yards from the lake’s shore. People were quick to respond, risking their own lives to go out and test the ice to approach the stranded animals. They grabbed what tools they could and used hammers, shovels and chainsaws to chip and cut a crude pathway through the ice to the shore. Someone had a rope to lasso around each elk’s neck to pull it to shore where others grabbed what body parts they could hang onto to drag the exhausted animal out of the frigid water onto the surface. More and more people showed up to help. By the end of the 40 minute or so ordeal, dozens of people were involved in the rescue. Miraculously, all of the elk were brought out of the icy water and survived.

Click on the links below to read stories of the rescue and see pictures and a video clip:
Alpine Residents Rescue Elk From Icy Waters By Katie Glennemeier, sweetwaternow.com, Dec. 29, 2017
Volunteers with chainsaws and lassos rescue herd of elk that fell through the ice on Wyoming reservoir By Christine Peterson, Casper Star-Tribune, Dec. 29, 2017
Good Samaritans frantically rush to save herd of elk that fall through ice into frigid water By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com, Dec. 29, 2017

Related Links Sad Ending - by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online, Dec. 17, 2017 (story and photos about a different ending for an unfortunate buck deer who fell into the New Fork River earlier in December)