Cliff Russell, Alan Russell, and Mallory Harrigan are crab fishermen who set out off the coast of Labrador in Canada on the 22nd of June last year and it seemed like it was going to be like any other day.
However, they were off to a late start as there had been plenty of ice that prevented them from getting out. They set their gear and went towards Pinsent’s Arm, a coastal village in Labrador to refuel.
4 miles from the land, they saw something unusual on top of a big piece of ice.
The Crabmen Realize It’s a Stranded Arctic Fox
Once they came closer, they realized it was a small arctic fox. She probably became stranded on the iceberg while searching for food. She was starving and freezing and the crab fishermen knew that it wouldn’t last much longer there if they don’t help it out.
However, they were still reluctant to put the fox on board the boat because it’s a wild animal and they weren’t sure how it will react. But, they knew that this was its only chance of surviving.
At first, the arctic fox was very scared and didn’t want to come near the fishermen. And, it fought hard to escape. Ultimately, the crew had to break off the ice pieces that the fox was standing on so that it goes into the water and they scoop it out using a dipnet.
The fox swam until it became tired. Once this happened, they scooped it up successfully. The fox immediately curled into a ball and went into a corner. The fishermen tried to feed it chips and crackers and anything else they had with them, but the animal wouldn’t eat for long.
This poor fox wasn’t just starving, but it also hadn’t slept either. The stress of being forced out of the iceberg, into the water, and then pulled into a boat was evident.
The Tired Fox Finally Gets Some Rest
When the crew reached Pinsent’s Arm, they set up a bed of sawdust that they made from four fish pans so that they dry out the fox. Up until this point, they were unsure if the animal would make it. However, once they placed it in its bed, it immediately fell asleep.
The fishermen explained that the winds had changed southwest so if they hadn’t found and helped the fox, it would probably drift only further out to the sea.
The fox now lives on a small island in the harbor that was previously used for sled dogs. From time to time, the fishermen say, they see the fox running around and chasing smaller prey. They put it into one of the old dog houses and then left it.
The fox was eager to explore her new home and went off its way.
Sources:
