Hunter rescued from tree after Missouri River levee topped

CHESTERFIELD, Mo. (AP) -- A hunter is alive and well after being rescued from a tree as floodwaters surrounded him.

The incident happened Monday in the Chesterfield Valley area of west St. Louis County. James Berg was taken to a hospital but was OK, except for a few bug bites.

Berg and friends were bow hunting when the rising Missouri River overtopped a small agricultural levee, flooding miles of land. Other hunters were able to get out but Berg was stuck.

So he climbed a tree to safety and waited -- along with the snakes, rodents and spiders in the tree with him.

Pretty soon, a helicopter spotted him. Rescue crews from the Monarch Fire Protection District moved in with their boat.

No homes or businesses were damaged because of the overtopped levee.

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Information from: KSDK-TV, http://www.ksdk.com