Colorado Firefighters Save Drowning Yak Which Fell Through Frozen Pond

There’s a first time for everything, something Evergreen Fire Rescue in Evergreen, Colorado, experienced Wednesday afternoon. Thanks to their extensive training, the department’s firefighters successfully undertook their first yak rescue.

“We’ve responded to horses, elk and pet dogs before, but this was our first yak,” said Einar Jensen, Evergreen Fire Rescue’s risk reduction coordinator. “The patient and all the rescuers are fine, and it was a 30-minute call once we were on the scene.” 

Evergreen Fire Rescue takes every ice rescue seriously. While a yak might have more endurance in the frigid water of a frozen lake, the team assessed and responded to the situation as they would in any other scenario.

“This was an emergency incident, and we treated it as such,” Jensen said. “Our rescuers face the same risk at this incident as any other.”

No Time For Yakking

On Wednesday afternoon, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a “bison calf” that had fallen through an ice-covered pond on a private ranch near Evergreen Memorial Park. The victim was confirmed to be a 3-year-old female yak once Evergreen Fire Rescue arrived at the scene.

The trapped yak was keeping her nose above water and wasn’t struggling tremendously, but she was “definitely uncomfortable” and yakking about it.

“She was calling out to her herd when we arrived, and the herd had gathered around the pond, clearly concerned about their fellow yak,” he said. “The ranch owners were able to move the herd to an adjacent paddock to keep them and the human rescuers safe.”

After assessing the situation, the responders decided the best way to rescue the yak was to cut a 10-foot path between the hole in the ice and the shore. Chainsaws and pike poles were used to create the path.

Once the way was clear, the yak figured out what to do and hauled herself to shore. Soaking wet but uninjured, she soon reunited with her herd without further incident.

 “No injuries, for critters or firefighters,” Jensen said.

Always Real

Most of Evergreen Fire Rescue’s paid and volunteer firefighters have undergone training for ice rescues. When they responded to the yak call, they came ready to use the same techniques and equipment they’d deploy to rescue a human.

“Had the yak been in deeper water, our firefighters would have gone into the water to put a harness around it, then pull and lift it to shore with a front-end loader. We were certainly thinking about doing that and grateful we didn't have to.”

If a person were in a similar situation, a responder would go into the water and put a floatation device around the victim’s back. Rope tenders on shore would then pull the victim and the firefighter out of the water.

Rescuing a yak is different from a person, but Jensen said the mentality of the responders was to treat this call as seriously as any other. It’s especially risky with large animals since they might adversely respond to the response.

“You're never sure livestock or wild animals are going to react to a rescue or someone being that close to them in that crisis,” he said. “This was a full emergency response to an emergency situation.”

Let Us Do It

Evergreen Fire Rescue shared the story of the yak rescue on social media. While it’s a great way to create engagement, Jensen said it’s also a way to remind local ranchers who to call when their animals end up in similarly serious circumstances. 

“Everybody needs to know what their fire department does,” Jensen said. “If we don’t respond, we know civilians will try to help the animals. That's an easy way for untrained, unequipped humans to get in trouble. Most of our firefighters are certified for ice rescue scenarios, so it makes far more sense for us to go out and help these animals get out of these predicaments.” 

Sharing stories of successful rescues also helps foster relationships with local ranchers. Jensen said the yak rescue was “a team effort” with the ranchers, who learned how to respond to these emergencies while keeping themselves and their animals safe until the cavalry arrives. 

“In the fire service, we train for the real thing, because we have no idea what the real thing is going to be,” he said. “We wouldn’t have been successful without the ranchers also being there. That happens with planning, collaboration, and good relationships at that emergency scene.”

Naturally, everybody yearned for the success of the yak rescue. For Jensen, it was an emergency response and learning opportunity worthy of celebration. 

“It's always fun to show a successful rescue,” he said. “We were able to save this animal, which is a component of this family's economic well-being, but also a great outcome for this critter. That’s what it comes down to.”

Andrew Rossi can be reached at arossi@cowboystatedaily.com.