A 12-year-old husky survived for days while trapped in a cold, muddy Illinois marsh before a thermal-imaging drone finally spotted him from above.
Here's what to know
According to WGN, Bandit got out on June 13 when a door at Valorie Revere's house in Chicago's northwest suburbs was left open. As the search shifted toward high-tech help, Revere contacted Pero Radulovic of Pero's Backwoods Drone Search and Rescue.
After spending hours searching the area without success, Radulovic finally deployed a thermal-imaging drone and found Bandit at around 3 a.m. in the muddy marshes of Lakemoor.
The canine had managed to keep his head above the water, but rescuers told WGN-TV he was covered in ticks. With help from Lakemoor police and the McHenry Township Fire Protection District, first responders pulled the husky to safety.
"This is kind of my job," Radulovic told WGN-TV. "I love to do this and I love to save people's pets, so when I finally came across Bandit, I was overjoyed and happy that [Revere] was able to trust Pero's Backwoods Drone Search and Rescue to find Bandit."
More background
After what appeared to be a close call in the marsh, Bandit was taken to a nearby veterinary clinic in critical condition, where urgent treatment was expected to cost about $12,000. Luckily, Bandit had made major progress, avoiding such a hefty bill.
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"They were very surprised at how well he was doing the very next day and how his blood work came back," Revere said. "So, he's still not out of the woods. He still has a fever. He still has an infection. He still has an issue with his liver. The kidneys are making progress…but he doesn't have to go to critical care."
Bandit has already been through a difficult time. Last year, glaucoma ended up costing Bandit an eye.
"We call him the 'One-eyed Bandit' now, but he is such a fighter," she said.
What's being done?
The rescue used a drone in terrain that was difficult and dangerous to search on foot. Marshland, tall grass, darkness, and cold weather can make missing-pet cases more urgent and harder to navigate safely.
Thermal imaging can help rescuers detect body heat in places where a frightened or injured animal might otherwise remain unseen. In Bandit's case, that technology made all the difference after five hours of unsuccessful searching.
The rescue relied on coordination among pet owners, specialized search teams, police, and firefighters. Once the drone identified Bandit's location, first responders were able to move quickly to get him out.
According to WGN-TV, Revere said the money from the now-closed GoFundMe campaign would go toward Bandit's vet bill and that she was grateful to everyone who helped search for him and donate.
Where can I learn more?
Bandit's rescue is one example of how drones and thermal imaging can help search teams in places that are tough to cover on foot, especially when weather, darkness, or rough terrain raise the stakes.
• In North Carolina, strangers and a drone pilot helped reunite Monchu after floodwaters swept him away.
• During a garden rescue, thermal imaging spotted fox cubs hidden beneath a shed.
• In Queensland, Australia, a drone-and-dog search followed a Tasmanian devil's baffling wildlife-park escape.
• After 24 hours in danger, a fox cub was found freezing and hypothermic.
Animal emergencies can escalate quickly, and the right equipment can make a huge difference in difficult searches.
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