LMPD River Unit frees deer stuck in mud along Ohio River riverbank

Louisville Metro Police Department’s River Unit freed a deer that officers found stuck in thick mud along a riverbank near Harrods Creek over the weekend, according to a post published Monday by LMPD, along with photos of the rescue.

WLKY reported that LMPD said the River Unit was patrolling the Ohio River when officers came across the deer in distress. The post described the animal as appearing stuck in mud along the shoreline, with officers needing to work carefully to extract it without causing further harm.

In the account shared publicly by LMPD, officers reportedly located the deer while on routine patrol, then moved to assist once the extent of the situation was assessed. LMPD’s description indicated the deer was embedded in the mud, a condition that can limit an animal’s ability to move and can quickly worsen depending on water levels and footing.

The photos posted with the update showed officers involved in the rescue effort near the riverbank, with the department framing the incident as an example of its River Unit’s role in the community beyond traditional law enforcement calls.

LMPD’s River Unit focuses on incidents along waterways, and the department’s statement tied the rescue to the unit’s ongoing patrol activity in the Ohio River area. The post described officers as taking time and using a careful approach to free the deer from the mud.

A date for the specific weekend incident was not included in the report, and LMPD did not provide further details in the account described by WLKY, such as whether animal control or wildlife officials were contacted. The update did, however, indicate that officers were able to free the deer after finding it in distress.

With the incident now public, the department’s post also serves as a reminder of how quickly wildlife can get into dangerous situations along riverbanks, particularly in areas with soft, muddy shoreline where escape can be difficult.