West Lane County, OR – Search and Rescue Locates Two Subjects

West Lane County, OR – Search and rescue operations concluded successfully this week following the safe recovery of two subjects in the remote Cape Creek area. The Lane County Sheriff's Office mobilized resources after receiving initial reports of an overdue individual late on Thursday, September 10, 2026.

According to the Lane County Sheriff's Office, the department received a call at approximately 11:00 p.m. on September 10, 2026, regarding a man who had gone mushroom picking and had failed to return. A woman reported that she had dropped the man off in the area but was unable to locate him upon her return to retrieve him. The man was accompanied by a puppy but reportedly lacked adequate provisions for an extended stay in the woods.

Deputies and search and rescue volunteers faced significant challenges, including patchy cellular service, which hindered communication with the reporting party. Search efforts continued into the next day, and by 2:00 p.m. on Friday, September 11, 2026, the team successfully located the man and his puppy at the woman's vehicle. Although the man had made it to the car, the woman was not there; rescuers found a note she had left stating she was still searching for him.

Authorities continued their search for the woman and ultimately located her using a drone at approximately 3:20 p.m. that afternoon. Both subjects were found uninjured. Following the incident, the sheriff's office issued a public reminder regarding outdoor safety, emphasizing the need for reliable communication plans, proper gear, and the importance of staying put if lost. The office further advised citizens that, while the urge to assist in a search is noble, individuals should avoid putting themselves in dangerous situations by attempting their own rescue operations.

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