Firefighters rescue camel from sinkhole

Clackamas County firefighters were called at 9:45 p.m. Tuesday to the rural Oregon City home of Mike and Kim Dilworth when their 1,200 to 1,500-pound Bactrian camel, Moses, became stuck in the mud with only his head protruding, The (Portland) Oregonian reported Thursday.

The firefighters dug around the camel by hand and were able to fasten a tarp and heavy straps under the animal, which was out of the mud by 12:15 a.m. Wednesday.

A veterinarian checked Moses out and said the camel managed to avoid serious injury.

Firefighter Steve McAdoo said the department is familiar with animal rescues, even once rescuing a cow from a barn.

"I don't know why we are the pet rescue fire department," McAdoo said. "Some of the guys on the rescue of the camel were there when we did the cow in the well. We're getting this down."

Copyright 2010 United Press International, Inc. (UPI).