This photo of a deer struggling in Lake Ontario was taken yesterday by the Port Credit fisherman who rescued it. John O. was out on the lake to do some early morning salmon fishing when he heard a report on the marine radio that a young buck was in trouble about 4 km offshore from Jack Darling. It was disoriented and couldn't find it's way in.

After the Peel Regional Police marine unit responded that there was nothing they could do for it, John and his buddy decided they'd have to take care of it. They radioed for a location and realized the animal was less than a kilometre away.

All the oc paddlers cross this stretch of water regularly - both Larry and I were out there at different times yesterday morning - and I would have been completely perplexed about what to do if I'd come across this animal on my own.

These guys first tried herding it toward shore with the boat and for half an hour that worked until it suddenly made a break in the opposite direction. Finally, they had to lasso the deer's antlers and, holding it's head above the water, moved slowly into shore. They stayed with it on the beach in Lorne Park until it caught it's breath. Nice!