Oakland Co. Rescue Officials Make Unusual Lake Save

BRANDON TOWNSHIP, MI — Officials with the Oakland County Sheriff's Office made an unusual lake rescue Sunday.

Rescue officials were called out at 8:30 p.m. Sunday to Lake Louise in Brandon Township to save a life that turned out to be a Great Blue Heron, officials said.

"Our search and rescue team has grown in both size and ability and as such are capable of rescues of all kinds," Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. "In this case, they rescued the majestic Blue Heron, which we all enjoy watching throughout our state. I am proud of their efforts."

Rescue officials were sent to a marshy spot on the lake near Glass Road where nearby residents heard the bird squawking, officials said.

Using several rescue boats, officials said the team reached the bird and found it hopelessly tangled in some fishing line.

"There is no way the bird was going to get out of there," SSRT Lt. Brian Burwell said. "The fishing line was wrapped multiple times around its wings and there was no way it was getting loose. I’m sure the bird would have died there."

The team sought help from other public safety agencies, including members from the Oakland County Animal Control, officials said.

Officials said Animal Control Officers Ashley Tester and Aubrie Mausolf waded into thigh-deep water and placed a towel over the heron’s head to reduce its stress. Then, they picked up the bird and spent the next several minutes untangling and cutting the fishing line, officials said.

The bird had no signs of cuts or any other injuries, officials said.

Officials placed the bird on the shore for a final exam before it quickly hopped back into the water and swam away, officials said.

Officials also removed the fishing line and fishing lure that had been tangled in the tree to prevent any future incidents, officials said.

Burwell believes an angler made an errant cast that landed in a tree branch and was unable to free the line.

"This was definitely not your standard call," Burwell said.