This winter in Michigan has seen numerous incidents of people and animals falling through thin ice. Notably, in January, a dog fell through ice on the Detroit River and required a four-hour rescue, while in December, two snowmobilers tragically drowned after falling through ice in Round Lake. Most recently, rescue teams, including the Calhoun County Area Law Enforcement Underwater Rescue Team (ALURT), responded to an incident where four horses wandered onto an icy pond at Turtle Creek Golf Course and fell through the ice. The rescue teams successfully removed all four horses from the cold water without injury to the animals or rescuers.

These repeated ice-related emergencies highlight the dangers of thin ice during Michigan’s winter months. Fortunately, in the latest rescue, the horses were able to warm up, walk on their own, and received medical care, underscoring the importance of prompt and coordinated rescue efforts. The article expresses hope that this will be the last broken ice rescue of the season, given the already high number of incidents.