Calf Rescued from Harmony Coast Cliff After Being Missing for Over a Week

A 5-month-old calf is safe after a dramatic rescue Saturday morning, where firefighters hoisted it from the bottom of a steep coastal cliff where it is believed to have been stranded for more than a week.

According to the San Luis Obispo County Fire Department, crews were dispatched to the Harmony coastline near Harmony Ranch Road at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 24, for a report of an animal rescue.

Animal Rescue – Harmony Coastline

At 9:30 AM, crews rescued a 5-month-old calf found ~50 feet down a steep beach cliff near Harmony Ranch Rd. The rancher believes she had been there over a week, after missing branding, and was discovered by the ranch dog.

USAR teams used a… pic.twitter.com/MMWvyREzKZ

— San Luis Obispo County Fire Department (@CALFIRE_SLO) January 24, 2026

Upon arrival, responders found the young calf approximately 50 feet down a rugged bluff on the beach below. The rancher told officials the calf had been missing for over a week after not showing up for branding. The animal’s predicament was only discovered when a ranch dog located it and alerted its owner.

Specialized Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams from the fire department responded to undertake the challenging rescue. Using a technical rope system, they carefully lowered a rescuer down the cliff face to reach the stranded animal. Once the calf was secured, both it and the rescuer were safely hoisted back to solid ground.

In a fitting tribute to its ordeal on the shore, the resilient calf has been given a new name: “Rock-Sand.”

The fire department praised the successful outcome, stating it was the result of “Great teamwork and smooth operations by all involved.”