Some local heroes in Montana came to the rescue after four bull elk became trapped in a frozen pond. Using a helicopter, crews were able to safely remove the elk.

I was in Idaho spending time with my family over the Thanksgiving holiday. When I got home to Montana and checked out what people were talking about on Facebook, I couldn't believe my eyes. According to reports, four bull elk got trapped in the center of a frozen pond east of Bozeman on Sunday, and were unable to escape.

Miracle In Montana: Massive Elk Rescued From Frozen Pond

I've spent the entire morning trying to find out exactly what happened. I spoke with a representative of Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks to get more information.

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Sunday marked the end of general hunting season in Montana. During the season, wildlife often gets pushed into more populated areas, and it's not uncommon to see them around Bozeman, Missoula, and other larger cities in the state. Snow at higher elevations also forces animals into lower elevations and residential areas.

Elk
Photo by Jack Charles on Unsplash
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Pictures of four elk trapped in the center of a frozen pond near Bozeman began to circulate on social media Sunday afternoon. Montana FWP and local law enforcement teamed up to rescue the elk. A local resident offered to use a privately owned helicopter to aid in the rescue.

You can watch the video below:

Thankfully, all four elk were able to escape the frozen pond. Using a helicopter may be an unconventional method, but it worked. It's definitely not something you see everyday, and it's awesome to see people work together to help the animals get to safety.

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