ANTIGO (WRN) - An injured loon that was saved by rescuers in northeast Wisconsin is recovering at the Raptor Education Center in Antigo. Members of the Pickerel Fire and Rescue squad saved the bird on December 7th, after concerned residents called the DNR. They inflated a rescue craft and ventured 150 feet onto thin ice to save the loon. Marge Gibson, the center’s director, said the male injured a wing several months ago – and it’s unfortunate that his long time female mate had to fly south for the winter to save herself. She’s said to be in the Gulf of Mexico, and officials will soon send the male bird there once he’s recovered. Pickerel’s 7 person rescue unit is especially created to save snowmobilers, ice fishermen, and others who fall into local lakes. Gibson says she’s grateful the unit saved the male loon, so concerned residents would not have gotten hurt or killed trying to save the bird themselves.