A missing 18-month-old toddler who wandered away from his home was found safe and sound Monday afternoon by a Maine game warden in the town of Bradford.

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife
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Wardens say the little boy’s parents had been sleeping after working an overnight shift Sunday night. At some point near daybreak, the mother opened the house door to let out the family dog. It is believed the door may have been left open and the toddler was able to exit the home, Wardens said.

When the father woke up at 1:00 Monday afternoon, he noticed his son was missing. The family searched for the toddler for a short period before they called police.

Maine Game Wardens, State Troopers with K9’s, and a Maine Forest Service helicopter responded shortly after 2 p.m. to Isthmus Road, off Route 221 in Bradford.

After initial searches of nearby buildings and roadways, troopers and game wardens noticed dog tracks behind the home. They believed the dog tracks might point in the direction of the missing child.

At 4:20 p.m., Game Warden Jim Fahey located the toddler a little more than a half a mile behind the residence. The boy was found sleeping in a tire rut on a grassy road. Warden Fahey woke up the child, who appeared to be in good health.

The Warden Service said this could have been a very tragic incident had the toddler not been located quickly, and are thankful it had a good outcome.

This case remains under investigation by the Maine State Police.

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