Fire Department

A 911 caller was very concerned when she saw what appeared to be a capsized kayak – and possibly a body near it – floating on Lake Monona.
 
The Madison Fire Department’s Lake Rescue Team and other nearby units were dispatched to the location, just off Lakeland Avenue.
 
Firefighters on Engine 3 were first to roll up to the scene and meet with the 911 caller. She said it appeared a person was struggling to right the kayak or canoe that had overturned.
 
With the use of Engine 3’s strong scene lights aimed at the water, along with hand-held lanterns and binoculars, firefighters were able to scan the horizon and see the object in question.
 
“It was, in fact, a large tree trunk with a beaver of some sort swimming around it,” said the officer on scene.
 
The Lake Rescue Team was advised they could turn around, and with no other obvious issues, firefighters and the 911 caller left the beaver to be.