Photos courtesy of the rescuers Above: John Oberholtzer (left) and Pat Vaughn with the loon-in-a-box. Upper right: The loon was relatively calm once it was placed in the box for transport. Lower right: The loon appeared healthy—and happy—once it was released on Caribou Lake.
On Tuesday morning, July 28, a loon was discovered on the side of the road at Peninsula Point Trail near the Caribou Trail in Lutsen.
Pat Vaughan was riding his bike when he noticed the loon. He was able to contact the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Dave Ingebrigtsen of the DNR Wildlife Division provided advice and contacted another Lutsen resident, John Oberholtzer and asked him to drive to the spot to come to the aid of the loon.
Vaughn protected the loon from predators and cars driving down Peninsula Point Trail until Oberholtzer arrived. Ingebrigtsen asked that they hold the loon’s head and feel for injuries. As Oberholtzer attempted to hold the loon, he was rewarded with a peck on the hand from the uncooperative bird.
On to the second plan, explains Vaughn in a report of the incident. Oberholtzer had a cardboard box, so Vaughn suggested they put the open end of a box over the loon. Oberholtzer then put a blanket on the end of the box and they quickly tipped the box and held the loon inside.
“Fortunately the box was deep enough so the loon couldn’t get out!” said Vaughn.
He held the box with the blanket over it as Oberholtzer drove the short distance down to Vaughn’s house on Caribou Lake.
They carefully carried the box to the edge of the lake and tipped it over. Theloon scrambled out and started swimming. The loon appeared to be in good health. It fluttered its wings a few times and then began swimming around, staying close to shore and its rescuers.
“It gave a different sounding and kind of a short call – almost like a ‘Thank you,'” said Vaughn.
Oberholtzer and Vaughn are both “Loon Rangers,” participating in the DNR’s loon counting program, so they both have an interest and awareness of loons and loon behavior. However they never thought they would have such a close encounter.
Vaughn suggested that the DNR award Oberholtzer a “Purple Heart” as he was injured in the line of duty!
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