Watch: Michigan First Responders Help Trapped Buck Escape Inground Pool

Each fall in Michigan, it feels like our deer population finds all sorts of ways to get into jams. If you have lived here long enough, you have probably seen photos of bucks tangled in backyard hammocks, wedged between fence pickets, or dragging decorative holiday lights through the woods. But just when you think you have seen it all, our local wildlife finds a new way to surprise us.

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Livonia First Responders Team Up for an Unusual Backyard Rescue

This week, Livonia Fire and Rescue responded to one of the weirdest animal-related calls yet this season: a buck taking an accidental swim in a residential inground swimming pool.

Livonia Fire & Rescue via Facebook

According to the department, the big guy fell right through a secured pool cover. With the pool partially drained for the season, he was unable to get enough footing on the slick sides to climb out.

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Livonia Police arrived first and called in the fire department for backup.

Firefighters angled an extension ladder into the pool, giving the deer a way to get out. Once the ladder was in place, the buck successfully rescued himself, scampered up the pool steps, and ran off into the woods, leaving everyone stag-gered by his clean getaway.

Why Michigan Deer Get Stuck in Wild Situations Every November

While it's easy to chuckle at the visual of a massive antlered buck taking a dip in a backyard pool, it's worth thinking about how they end up in these wild situations every November.

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Autumn is peak chaos season for Michigan deer, driven by two huge factors: the rut and hunting season.

Right now, we are in the heart of the deer rutting season, which is their official mating period. Driven by a surge in testosterone, bucks lose their minds a bit. They're on the move, hyper-focused on finding mates, and completely oblivious to their surroundings.

On top of that, fall hunting pressure across the state pushes deer out of their usual forest cover. Flustered and unfamiliar with residential neighborhood layouts, a running deer can easily misjudge a plastic pool cover or slide straight into the deep end.

Backyard Safety Tips to Protect Local Wildlife This Fall

It's a good reminder for homeowners to double-check their yards this time of year. Taking down hammocks, securing mesh netting, and inspecting pool covers can save our animals a lot of stress. When it comes to pools, Livonia FD issues this reminder:

Pool covers are not always wildlife-proof. Deer and other animals can accidentally fall into pools and become trapped. Regularly inspect your pool cover and consider installing an approved wildlife escape ramp to give animals a way out if they find themselves in trouble.

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Huge props to the Livonia Police and Fire departments for their quick teamwork! They were definitely quick on their feet, and thankfully, so was the buck eventually!