Thursday, November 7th

Lobsterman rescues deer trapped in water off Maine coast

In this Monday, Nov. 4, 2019, photo provided by Jared Thaxter, a deer bobs in the ocean five miles off shore from Harrington, Maine. Lobsterman Ren Dorr and his crew hauled the 100-pound buck aboard. The deer was returned to shore and released in Harrington. (Jared Thaxter via AP)

HARRINGTON, Maine (AP) - A Maine lobsterman hauled in an unusual catch 5 miles off the coast - a live deer.

Ren Dorr says he was setting traps when he saw a young deer Monday morning. He says the deer had given up swimming and was being carried farther offshore.

He and his crew hauled the 100-pound buck aboard.

Having a wild animal in a confined space could be trouble. But Dorr told the Bangor Daily News that the deer was so tuckered out that he "laid right down like a dog."

He says it took a half-hour to return to Harrington, where the deer was set free.

Dorr says that he has seen deer swimming before but that this was different.

He says that if he and his crew hadn't intervened, the deer would have been "a goner."

In this Monday, Nov. 4, 2019, photo provided by Jared Thaxter, a deer that was rescued from the ocean five miles off shore from Harrington, Maine, rests in a boat on its way back to shore. Lobsterman Ren Dorr and his crew saw the 100-pound buck bobbing in the water, hauled it aboard and returned to shore where the deer was released in Harrington. (Jared Thaxter via AP)