PHILLIPS, Maine — Maine game wardens safely located two toddlers in the woods who had been missing for nearly three hours Wednesday evening.
Around 4:55 p.m. Wednesday, Maine Game Wardens responded to Number Six Road in Phillips to search for two missing toddlers, ages two and three, according to a Thursday news release from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW).
Reportedly the two siblings were outside playing with their older brother around 3:45 p.m. at their home on Heron Mark Lane when the two ran down the driveway onto the road and then out of sight, according to MDIFW.
Officials say the older brother told his parents, who immediately began looking for their children. Following a search of nearby roadways, the couple was unable to locate the toddlers and the authorities were called, the release stated.
Game wardens searched the surrounding wooded area using ATVs, K9s, and a Warden Service aircraft to locate the missing children. At approximately 7:45 p.m., K9 Storm picked up the children's scent and was able to follow it to their location, the release stated. Warden Chad Robertson and K9 Storm found the two children huddled together in a heavily wooded remote area off Number Six Road, located about a half mile from their house on Heron Mark Lane.
The children were checked by EMS personnel and then released to their parents.
“This was a great team effort by all those involved”, Sgt. Scott Thrasher who was one of 12 Game Wardens who responded to the scene, said. “Warden Robertson and K9 Storm were the heroes here, helping to prevent these two young children from spending a long night alone in the woods," the release stated.
Maine Warden Service was also assisted by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and Northstar Ambulance.