Deer Swimming In Lagoon Helped To Safety In Toms River

TOMS RIVER, NJ ? Firefighters rescued a doe that found herself swimming in a lagoon in the Snug Harbor development on Monday, authorities said.

A witness told Patch that residents saw the deer swimming and in distress, unable to get back to the land. Several residents tried to coax her back toward the local beach where there is a natural shoreline, to no avail, the witness said.

East Dover Fire Chief Joe Catapano said authorities were called about 4:30 p.m. about a deer stranded in a lagoon in the area of Ship Court. Crews from East Dover and Silverton Volunteer Fire companies responded with their marine units and fire apparatus to assist on land.

Mark Faller, a resident of Seaman Court, came over and lassoed the deer, a witness said.

Catapano said firefighters then guided the deer back to land near Cattus Island, where the doe was able to get out of the water safely on her own.

Catapano said authorities do not recommend that the public attempt these rescue efforts on their own.

"While a deer may appear friendly, close contact with distressed wildlife may result in serious injury and harm to both the animal and the rescuer," he said.

This isn't the first time a deer has been rescued from a lagoon in the East Dover area of Toms River. In 2021, a man dove into a lagoon in Windsor Park to rescue a fawn in a video that garnered more than a million views. Read more: 'You Would Do The Same': Man Rescues Fawn In Toms River Lagoon

This article has been updated with additional details from East Dover Fire Chief Joe Catapano.