Barking Dog Helps Tulsa Crews Rescue Hiker On Turkey Mountain

A barking dog helped rescuers locate a hiker who went missing on Turkey Mountain in Tulsa Friday night. The woman and her German Shepherd were missing for about four hours in the heat, according to Tulsa firefighters.

Captain Stan May said a family member contacted TFD to say a 22-year-old woman hiking the trails with her dog was apparently lost. They'd last heard from her around 6:30 p.m. when her cell phone lost power.

At that time, the woman believed she was at or near the Red Trail and described the scene to her relative.

Search crews were called out to look for the woman, according to May, and set up a command post on Elwood Avenue. Tulsa police and firefighters searched with all-terrain vehicles, infrared cameras and the TPD helicopter, he said in a news release. 

A search team reported hearing a dog bark, and the helicopter was able to find the woman using their directions. The helicopter then spotlighted her location so firefighters could rescue the pair using a four-wheel drive vehicle around 10:30 p.m.

May said the woman and dog were assessed and released to family members.

"The German Shepherd was provided with a cold compress and some drinking water," he said.

"The unified command, and the joint training of the two departments, allowed the search teams to quickly cover the area and locate the victims without wasting time duplicating efforts."