A 25-year-old Fairfield man was found safe Friday morning after he went missing on Moosehead Lake during a snowsquall Thursday.

Colby Davis and a friend were riding snowmobiles at about 5 p.m. near Farm Island on Moosehead Lake in Tomhegan Township when the two became separated during the snowsquall, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife spokesperson Mark Latti said in a news release.

His friend called 911 at about 6:30 p.m. when Davis never returned to camp, Latti said.

Game wardens searched the lake immediately but could not find Davis.

“Game Wardens also searched the shoreline and nearby cabins through the night but found no trace of Davis,” Latti said. “Efforts were hindered by blowing snow and winds over 25 mph, and temperatures around 3 degrees.”

Complicating matters, in a separate incident near the same area on the lake, an ATV and its driver went through the ice. That person was rescued and taken to a Dean hospital, according to Latti.

A game warden aircraft was launched and game wardens were preparing to resume the search when they received a call from a camp owner at about 7 a.m. that Davis had spent the night with him at his camp.

“It appears that after Davis became separated from his friend in the fading light and snowsquall, he became disoriented and drove on the lake until he struck a pressure ridge, and got his snowmobile stuck,” Latti stated.
Unable to get his snowmobile out, he walked until he found an occupied camp, where the camp owner took him in for the night.

“There was no cell phone reception at the camp, so this morning, the camp owner was able to drive a snowmobile out to where there was cell phone reception and notified the warden service that Davis was with him, and in good condition. The camp was over  five miles from where Davis and his friend became separated.”

The Maine Warden Service is reminding the public to be cautious as ice conditions may be extremely variable. Those ice fishing and snowmobiling should always check the ice before venturing out.