NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL 

March 3, 2008
Vol. 38, No. 82

For more information, contact Sgt. Gregory Rhodes, Fish and Wildlife Enforcement, 302-542-6102 or 302-739-9913, or Joanna Wilson, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Fish and Wildlife Agents Rescue Hunter Stranded on Marsh
Kent 911 System Pinpointed Man through Cell Phone Signal

            Over the weekend Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Agents put technology to work to locate and rescue a hunter stranded on the marsh in the Woodland Beach Wildlife Area. The Dover man was hunting snow geese on an island in the wildlife area on March 1 when his boat drifted away in high winds and cold, rough water.

About 5:30 p.m., the hunter called 911 on his cell phone, and the Kent County Emergency Communications Center used its enhanced 911 system to determine his location through his phone’s GPS signal. The responding Fish and Wildlife Agents were then able to enter his latitude and longitude into Google Earth and use aerial photos to quickly reach the stranded man by patrol boat.

            “Having that information saved a lot of search time, and our agents were able to find him before dark. We encourage boaters or hunters who are disabled or lost to use the 911 system,” said Sgt. Gregory Rhodes of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement. “The hunter also made a wise choice not to try to swim to his boat, given the water temperature and rough seas,” he added. 

            The hunter was returned safely to the Woodland Beach Boat Ramp, and agents were able to locate his boat, which had drifted about a quarter mile from the island. 

For further information, contact Sgt. Gregory Rhodes, Fish and Wildlife Enforcement, at 302-542-6102 or 302-739-9913.

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