Fishermen Think They Found a Seal on a Floating Iceberg Until They Get Closer and Realize They are !

Fishermen think they found a seal on a floating iceberg—until they get closer and realize they’re in danger.

When a trio of fishermen heads out looking for crabs, they see something surprising—a creature trapped on ice, floating out to sea all by itself, in serious need of rescue. They believe this to be one of the usual sea animals they typically see, like a seal. But what it actually is changes the course of their trip—and their lives—forever.

Mallory Harrigan, Ellen Russell, and Cliff Russell own a small fishing boat together. They trawl off the coast of Labrador, looking for cool stuff, and they recently found something that fit that description. The trio, who come from a small fishing village, had originally been boating enthusiasts. Eventually, though, they took the plunge and started their own fishing business, turning their hobby into a profession.

Mallory and her crew set out that day as they always did—chipper due to the excitement and the chilly weather of Newfoundland. Their excitement kept them alert and aware of their surroundings, which was necessary because there are many dangers to avoid at sea, including unpredictable weather patterns and wildlife.

With their fishing boat, the trio was able to haul in all kinds of marine animals, but fishing crabs weren’t the only thing they got to see while trawling the cold northern waters. The crew caught dozens of fish daily, so it wasn’t odd that one of them would prepare food for their daily catch while others did their duties on the ship. That day, Mallory was on the lookout while one of her shipmates readied the fishing gear.

Mallory had been working at sea for a while, so she was well aware of the dangers that lay in the open water. This sometimes included huge icebergs. Thanks to the Titanic, we all know that even an iceberg that seems far away can be catastrophic for a boat of any size. Icebergs are a common sight off the coast of Labrador, and as the waters in the area heat up, iceberg sightings have actually increased, with large chunks of Arctic ice drifting south earlier and earlier each season.

Mallory and her shipmates stayed on course but remained alert to the danger of the ice around them. In dangerous situations like these, they needed all hands on deck to ensure their safety and to avoid drifting toward the glacial giants. Some of the animals that live on icebergs include seals, penguins, and polar bears. It wasn’t out of the ordinary for Mallory and her crew to witness these animals on their trips. As long as they didn’t interact with them, both humans and animals could enjoy the ocean landscape without any altercations.

But what they were about to see didn’t abide by this code.

On one fateful day, while fishing for crabs, they came across something very different. On a large but rapidly shrinking chunk of ice, they spotted an unusual animal. From a distance, the fishermen thought it was an Arctic seal lounging casually on a floating iceberg. But as they drew closer, they began to worry. It was no seal.

The creature was small and furry, and it looked scared. It had every right to be—it didn’t have long before its icy perch would break down entirely. The crew was scared too because they weren’t sure how this animal would react to their presence.

When the boat got close enough, the fishermen realized they had found a tiny, cold Arctic fox. It was clear the fox shouldn’t have been that far out to sea alone, and there was no way it could swim back to shore if it fell off the iceberg. The team suspected that the fox may have been hunting when something went horribly wrong, trapping it on the wrong side of a glacier’s fissure. Once the iceberg started floating away, there was nothing the fox could do but remain aboard as it drifted farther and farther out to sea.

The trio rescued the fox, which was starving and very cold, and gave it a warm bed filled with sawdust while they transported it elsewhere. The fox was incredibly wary of the humans, but with some persuasion, it was convinced to remain calmly on the boat.

There wasn’t much food aboard a fishing boat that was suitable for an Arctic fox, but it was clear the little creature was in desperate need of sustenance. Eventually, the trio fed it Vienna sausages—the only semi-appropriate meaty snack on the boat. The fox snuggled down for a rest in its temporary bed and managed to get some sleep. It probably hadn’t been able to rest much on that iceberg, so its nap was long overdue.

In no time at all, the fox began to look a lot healthier—or at least a lot less like a drowning rat. The fishermen noticed the animal’s black skin, similar to that of a polar bear, which traps as much heat as possible, while its white fur provides camouflage in the snow.

Eventually, the fox realized the humans didn’t mean any harm, but it was still wary. Little did it know that these humans were going to take it to a new home—one where iceberg-surfing accidents would be far less common.

The fishermen found a new home for the fox—an old doghouse on the side of a barren hill overlooking the sea. It was the perfect place for the animal, as it was far enough away from humans to keep it safe. The fox seemed to appreciate the small enclosed space of its new home as it sniffed around the tiny hut. Then, clearly feeling bolder than it had atop the iceberg, it began exploring its surroundings.

While this area is grassy in the warmer months, it is covered in thick snow during the winter, which should be perfect for the tiny fox. It’s a shame the fox won’t be able to make its way back to its original home, but considering its iceberg mishap, this might be for the best.

Wanting to get a better look at its surroundings, the fox zoomed up to the top of a rocky outcrop. Meanwhile, its rescuers watched from a safe distance, filming the fox’s first few moments of freedom. Suddenly aware that it wasn’t alone, the fox turned back and locked eyes with its human friends.

It was a good sign that, rather than returning to ask them for more tasty sausages, the fox turned and ran farther away. Clearly, it hadn’t become too attached to humans as a result of its ordeal—which was good for its future health and safety.

Unfortunately, animals like this fox are increasingly feeling the negative effects of climate change, and it’s only going to get worse in the coming years. Scientists estimate that rising sea temperatures will rapidly deteriorate the remaining ice at our planet’s poles.

Thankfully, this little fox was safe and able to dash away into the thick grass of its new home. But not all Arctic animals will be so lucky.

We hope people like Mallory Harrigan and her friends will be on hand to rescue more animals who may end up in danger. But they can’t be there for all of them.