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Beringia

(4,316 posts) Thu Jun 25, 2020, 11:21 AM Jun 2020

256

Fishermen think they spot a seal atop an iceberg, it turned out to be something else entirely

https://wildlifeinsider.com/fishermen-think-they-spot-a-seal-atop-an-iceberg-it-turned-to-be-something-else-entirely/

At first, the crew thought it had to be a baby seal. But after Alan pulled out the binoculars to take a closer look, he reported that it definitely was not a seal: its movements and general appearance weren't consistent. The mystery was too much: they needed to get even closer to know for sure what kind of creature this was. Unfortunately, that also meant getting closer to the iceberg on which it was sitting.

Inching the boat closer, they were finally able to identify what type of creature they this was. Not one of them expected what they discovered: it was a juvenile Arctic fox.

One of their first concerns was that the fox would panic and jump in the icy water to escape. Arctic foxes are capable of swimming but avoid it all costs due to their reliance on warm, dry fur for survival. In his condition, they didn't know if he would have the strength to keep himself above water.

When the boat gently grazed the side of the ice, the fox tried in vain to escape. But he was trapped, further exacerbating his anxiety. Eventually, the animal just froze in fear, staring at the fishermen.

We had to break the ice he was on and get him with the dipnet. He fought and fought to get away until he literally couldn’t move anymore, Mallory later explained. To their huge relief, the plan worked and the fox was deposited safely onto the boat. Or so they thought.

The fox was so traumatized by the abrupt capture and transition to the boat that he promptly jumped overboard into the icy water. The crew's number one fear was now realized.

The terrified creature circled the boat as Alan tried repeatedly to grab ahold of him. The team grew more and more scared for the animal's life as it expended all of its energy paddling desperately through the frigid sea. Thankfully, Alan was finally able to get a secure enough grip to lift the fox out of the water and safely on board. This time, it was for good.

The little Arctic fox was securely on board The Northern Swan, but he was still in dire danger. He cowered away from them into a corner, shivering violently from the cold. The bitter wind seemed to get worse by the minute. The crew knew that the animal was in danger of freezing to death and began to worry aloud if they bungled the rescue.

Alan and Cliff gathered all of the towels and other makeshift covers that they could find. They approached the fox gingerly, still scared that he might lash out violently in fear. They had reason for concern about his defensive skills. The Arctic fox has many predators, including golden eagles, polar bears, wolverines, red foxes, wolves, and grizzly bears. This fellow knew how to protect himself.

When they got to the sled dog island, the crew split up: two went to look for a good kennel and one stayed behind with the fox. In a few minutes, the scouts returned to the boat with good news: they'd found a solid kennel in a nice area, with lots of little critters and stuff and freshwater ponds so that he would have food and water during his stay there.

They carried him onto the island and gently set him near the kennel. The little fox popped into the dog house straight away — this was a great sign that he was feeling at least reasonably at home. He soon peeked his head out and looked around, taking in the larger environment.

One quick postscript to this joyful tale: the little fox stayed nearby! Mallory reports that they still see him from time to time, running around the island chasing small animals. A truly happy ending for all.