Lucky pup survives 60-foot fall off cliff at national park

MUNISING, Mich. (WLUC/Gray News) - Authorities say a dog survived a fall after it got free from its leash and went off a cliff at a national park.

According to the National Park Service, a 3-year-old dog named Dancer fell off a cliff near Miners Castle Rock in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore area.

The pup landed on a ledge, about 60 feet below.

After hours of searching the area, Dancer’s owners were unable to locate the dog in the dark and were convinced she had not survived the fall.

Later that night, park rangers received notification of the lost dog.

The NPS said park rangers enlisted the help of Superior High Angle Rescue Professionals, a rope rescue team, to recover the dog from the treacherous section of Lake Superior shoreline.

The rescue team went to the area the following morning and were able to locate a cold, but alive Dancer. She spent the night trying to keep warm, but she was excited to see rescuers.

The team said Dancer has since been reunited with her Minnesota-based family and is recovering well.

“With this year’s mild start to winter, many areas of Pictured Rocks are more accessible than they are most years,” Chief Ranger Joe Hughes said. “It is still important to remember to be prepared for slippery, cold conditions that can change quickly.”