Ohio Fawn Rescue
Ohio Fire Crews and Police Successfully Rescue Baby Deer Trapped in Storm Drain
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Fire crews and police in New Richmond, Ohio, pulled a baby deer out of a storm drain on June 2, 2026, in a rescue that was caught on video and quickly spread across local news. The joint operation involved the New Richmond Fire and EMS Department and the New Richmond Police Department, who worked together to lift the fawn to safety before releasing it nearby KMBC.
The rescue came during peak fawning season, when Ohio's deer population — estimated at over 700,000 by the state — is most active. Heavy rainfall across the Ohio River Valley in late May likely displaced the animal, sending it into the drain WISN.
Rescuers Climb Into Drain to Free Trapped Fawn
When the call came in, firefighters removed the heavy storm grate covering the drain. A rescuer then climbed down into the confined space to reach the fawn. The animal was carefully secured and lifted out. Once on the surface, crews checked it for injuries before moving on to the next step KCRA.
The New Richmond Fire and EMS Department said the call reflects the wide range of work modern fire departments handle. "While not every call involves fire or emergency medical care, we're always ready to respond when assistance is needed — no matter how big or small the situation may be," the department said on social media WGAL.
Fawn Released Into Wild After On-Site Check
After the on-site assessment, the team drove the fawn to a nearby natural area and let it go. The goal was to reunite the animal with its mother as quickly as possible. Wildlife experts warn that too much human contact can cause a mother deer to reject her fawn KOAT.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has clear rules on this. State law generally bans citizens from keeping or caring for wild animals long-term without a permit. When an animal is physically stuck in infrastructure, though, first responders are allowed to step in as a last resort WMUR.
New Richmond Rescue Echoes a Growing Regional Trend
This is not the first time Ohio crews have pulled a fawn from a drain. In August 2025, the Cincinnati Fire Department ran an almost identical rescue after a fawn got stuck in an Oakley neighborhood storm drain. In May 2026, a fire department in neighboring Indiana rescued a fawn during flash flooding WVTM13.
Fawning season peaks each year in May and June. During that window, young deer wander into urban areas and can fall through drain grates. Local officials have begun discussing whether grate openings in residential areas should be made smaller to prevent future incidents 4029TV.
Viral Video Boosts Community Trust in Fire Department
Video of the rescue spread fast on social media and was picked up by regional TV stations. Analysts say these feel-good moments do more than warm hearts. They build real trust between residents and the first responders who serve them — and can help fire departments win public support during budget season KOCO.
A standard non-fire emergency call like this one can cost between $250 and $500 in staff time and equipment wear. Those costs are typically absorbed by the local budget as a public service. For New Richmond — a small village in Clermont County — the goodwill generated likely outweighs the expense WAPT.
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