Carlene Chalkley thought she might be able to take matters into her own hands Thursday morning when she saw a large bird that seemed to be stuck near her home on Orange Lake.

She walked out to see if she could help.

Splunk.

Instead of the solid ground she was used to because of the ongoing drought, her first step landed her knee-deep in muck. She didn’t bother to stick her other foot in.

On Friday, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission workers did go into the muck of Orange Lake. They rescued two sandhill cranes, one of which was taken to the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. One bird died when it was brought to shore and the other is in “bad shape,” FWC spokeswoman Karen Parker said.