Man who rescued deer from frozen lake faces fine after taking animal home to nurse back to health

(FOX NEWS) -- A Pennsylvania man who helped save several deer from a frozen lake is now facing fines after taking one of the animals home in an effort to nurse him back to health.

John Stoll Jr., 54, assisted the Game Commission, Wellsville Fire Department and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources with rescue efforts when the deer fell through the ice near Gifford Pinchot Park Saturday afternoon.

After one of the deer was pulled from the lake, trembling and cold, Stoll offered to take the animal home to care for it. So he loaded the small buck into his truck and took it back to his garage, York Daily Record reports.

He shared video on Facebook of the deer laying down, covered in blankets, as he pets the deer.

"Saved four buck from Pinchot Park today brought this guy home to save him," he wrote on the now viral post.

Stoll, a hunter, said he wanted to give the buck "a little hope" by "doing something good" for him.

The buck, unfortunately, did not survive and died Sunday morning. Stoll buried the animal.

"We were so devastated that he didn't make it," he said.

Now, Stoll faces two fines. One could be as much as $800.

According to the Game Commission's website, "wildlife taken alive may not be retained alive, sold, or given away. Live wildlife may be relocated to a natural setting."

Stoll claims no one told him he couldn't take the deer when he was at the lake.

"If they didn't want me to take that deer, why didn't they didn't they come to my house right as soon as I got home?" Stoll said.

Stoll said an online fundraiser has been set up to help him cover the costs, but he plans to donate part of the proceeds to an organization that helps animals.