11-Year-Old Rescued by Maine Game Warden and K-9

Game Warden K9 Koda and Game Warden Jake Voter rescued a missing 11-year-old girl who had wandered away from her residence earlier today, May 20, in St. Albans.

Game Wardens were called in to assist in searching for the girl on the Square Road at approximately 10:15 this morning. The young girl had gone missing at around 9:00 a.m. this morning, and after her family searched around the home for her unsuccessfully, they called 911 for help in locating her. Somerset County Sheriff’s Office arrived first, and quickly requested K9 assistance from the Maine State Police and Maine Warden Service.

Warden K9 Koda and Warden Voter were assigned to search a large, forested area located behind the house. After searching the woods for approximately 45 minutes, Koda picked up a scent, and moved swiftly towards a boggy area near a stream. She then started barking, alerting Warden Voter she had found something.

Upon getting closer, Warden Voter found the 11-year-old hiding in the tall grass near a stream in a wet, boggy area. She was located just a little before noontime, 2/3 of a mile from her house. She was tired and cold, but otherwise healthy. Warden Voter picked her up and gave her a piggy-back ride where she was reunited with her awaiting family.

Assisting the Maine Warden Service in the search was the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office, Maine State Police, The Maine Forest Service and the St. Albans Fire Department.

PHOTO: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife