12 Deer Rescued After Wandering Into Forked River Lagoon

LACEY, NJ — A team of police, firefighters and underwater divers came to the rescue of 12 deer stranded in a Forked River lagoon on Thursday morning.

Officials received multiple calls on Thursday around 8:30 a.m. reporting that several deer were submerged in a lagoon near Capstan and Varuna Drives in Forked River, Lacey police said.

Using the Lacey Township Underwater Rescue boat, officials corralled eight deer out of the water and guided them toward an area of wooded marsh. The deer safely exited the water without further incident, police said.

Another four deer, which had separated from the group, had to be physically removed from the cold waters, police said. They were safely rescued and relocated to a nearby wooded area.

Officials urge the public not to attempt rescue efforts on their own as close contact with animals under duress could lead to injuries for both the rescuer and animal.

“While it is not uncommon for deer to bear cold temperatures and swim in these waters, wandering into unknown lagoons becomes dangerous for both the animals and the public,” police said. “In a panicked state, the deer are unable to pull themselves from the water due to high bulk-heading and docks. Exhaustion and prolonged exposure to cold water temperatures often leads to hypothermia, even for an animal acclimated with the elements. Although these animals appear to be friendly, we do not recommend that the public attempt these rescue efforts on their own."

Agencies involved in the rescue include the Lacey Township Police Department, Lanoka Harbor Fire Department, Lacey Township Underwater Rescue and Recovery, and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office.

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