On Monday, Seminole County fire crews rescued a cow that had been stuck in mud for 24 hours, according to the fire department. The cow got trapped in a mud pit near the East State Road 46 and Lake Mary Boulevard intersection in Florida on Sunday. Crews dug through the soil for nearly three hours to safely rescue the cow, using equipment and techniques learned through courses on animal rescue at the University of Florida.
Firefighter Gavin Schmidt provided water to the cow using a bottle during the rescue, earning him the nickname “the cow whisperer.” After assessing and stabilizing the ground, crews dug out around the cow to free it up and then used straps to pull it up on a sled to safely get it out of the hole. The owner of the cow was nearby and in touch with a veterinarian, should the animal need further attention.
Lt. Elgin Myers with the Seminole County Fire Department suggested that the cow might have ended up in the mud pit while trying to reach its watering hole on the other side. Myers stated that although cow rescues are not a common occurrence, his department is prepared for them, having put a 20-member group through courses on animal rescue in the past.
He also emphasized that their crew made sure to take care of the cow during and after the rescue, cooling it down and keeping it hydrated while it was still in the hole and washing the mud off the animal once it was out.