Drone Helps Wisconsin Deputies Find Missing 85-Year-Old Man

An 85-year-old man who wandered into the woods near Meredith Road and State Highway 58 in Juneau County was safely found Monday night thanks to a fast drone search. The Juneau County Sheriff’s Office said the call came in shortly after 5 p.m., when a concerned caller believed the man was lost and possibly injured somewhere in the dense wooded area near New Lisbon.

According to WMTV15 News, multiple agencies jumped in to help, including the New Lisbon Fire Department, Lyndon Station Police Department, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and Mauston EMS. With daylight fading and cold evening temperatures rolling in, crews moved quickly.

Shortly before 7 p.m., deputies launched a drone over the search area. The drone team spotted the missing man stuck in thick mud and unable to get out on his own. Rescuers reached him soon after and brought him to safety. He was taken to Mile Bluff Medical Center for evaluation as a precaution, but officials say he is expected to be fine.

How Drones Helped Find Him Fast

Drones continue to prove their value in search missions like this one. In rural Wisconsin, thick woods and uneven terrain can slow down ground crews, but drones can cover large areas in minutes. Thermal imaging cameras also help find people quickly when visibility drops.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has become one of the most active drone users in the state, deploying them for environmental monitoring, wildlife surveys, emergency response, and search and rescue. DJI drones make up a large portion of their fleet, including popular public-safety models from the Matrice, Mavic, and Phantom series.

The DNR often uses thermal-equipped drones for night searches, wildlife counts, and even monitoring invasive species. While officials didn’t specify which model was used in this search, DJI drones are widely used for missions like this because they’re reliable, fast to deploy, and easy for trained operators to fly under pressure.

Why Local Agencies Rely on DJI Drones

Wisconsin agencies using drones often turn to DJI because the aircraft offer strong flight times, stable imaging, and dependable performance in cold weather. For search and rescue teams, these factors matter. A drone that can stay in the air longer means more ground covered.

Thermal imaging is one of the biggest advantages. In wooded areas, a person stuck in the mud or hidden under tree cover can be nearly impossible to spot from the ground. A thermal camera, however, sees heat instead of color. That makes humans stand out, even in dense brush or during low light.

In this case, the drone gave deputies a bird’s-eye view and a way to sweep terrain too muddy or too dark for fast foot searches. The result was a quick and safe recovery of an elderly man who could have faced a much worse outcome if found later.

DroneXL’s Take

This is another win for drone-assisted search and rescue, showing exactly why small unmanned aircraft are becoming standard tools for rural law enforcement. Wisconsin’s agencies, especially the DNR, have leaned heavily into drone tech for everything from wildlife counts to emergency response. When every minute matters, drones can turn what used to be hours of searching into a quick, targeted mission. It’s great to see another example of drones making a real difference in saving lives.

Photo credit: Juneau County Sheriff’s Office