Fishermen Think They Found A Seal Floating On An Iceberg, Then They Take A Closer Look
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Life at sea brings all manner of incredible experiences and challenges, with the proximity to the beauty and power of mother nature offering a view of the world that too few of us ever see.
Fishermen Mallory Harrigan, Cliff Russell, and Allan Russell were out a few miles off the shore from Labrador, Canada recently when they came across something quite extraordinary. A living thing was atop a small, mushroom-shaped iceberg, drifting helplessly out to sea, and it wasn’t a creature designed for swimming. It was a starving and terrified Arctic fox, wet through and under attack from circling seagulls.
“It had probably got stuck out there looking for a meal,” Mallory Harrigan told Bored Panda. “Cliff says he thinks he got out there to check out a bit of meat on the ice and it broke apart, sending the cute fox out to sea.”
Knowing that the poor fox was doomed to a terrible fate, Mallory and her crew-mates decided that they had to intervene and do what they could to try to save its life. They pulled their crab fishing boat alongside the iceberg and somehow managed to coax the fox aboard. “He was trying to run away from us at first, so we had a tough time getting him aboard,” Mallory told us. “We had to break the ice he was on and get him with the dip net. He fought and fought to get away until he literally couldn’t move anymore.”
Having finally succeeded in bringing the Arctic fox aboard, the crew, concerned with wildlife conservation, made a makeshift bed for the frail and vulnerable creature and began to nurse him back to health. “We scooped him up, and he retreated to the corner. He was too weak to do anything when we brought him aboard; he slept most of the way! When we came to, he was a bit nervous, but once we fed him, he was pretty calm.”
“He wouldn’t eat at all for the first 5 or 6 hours. We gave him chips and crackers, but he didn’t want anything until he woke up, and we fed him a tin of Vienna sausages.”
Back on dry land the grateful fox was released back into its natural habitat, well rested and with a belly full of sausage. A simple act of kindness from the crew had saved a member of the local wildlife, and Mallory says that she still sees it around from time to time, exploring some old dog houses in William’s Harbour. No more unscheduled sailing trips for this lucky guy!
Scroll down to check out the fox photos below, and feel free to share your own animal rescue stories in the comments!
Crew aboard crab-fishing boat The Northern Swan noticed something weird, 4 miles away from the shore
A mushroom-shaped iceberg had an unwitting passenger stranded atop it
The crew first thought it was a baby seal
Turns out it was an arctic fox
“It had probably got stuck out there looking for a meal,” Mallory Harrigan told Bored Panda
They lured the frightened animal onto their boat
“We gave him chips and crackers but he didn’t want anything until he woke up and we fed him a tin of Vienna sausages”
Back on dry land the grateful fox was released back into its natural habitat, a simple act of kindness from the crew had saved its life
People loved the actions of the crew and the happy ending
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It's people like Mallory Harrigan, Cliff Russell and Allan Russell who make this world a better, nicer, happier place to be. Love and compassion are beautiful qualities.
Absolutely agree with you 100%.
In a world where so many people perpetrate so much cruelty and destruction on so many others and against so much of the planet, it's heartwarming to see such a beautiful act of kindness. I found myself hoping that it was an especially big tin of sausages, or that they managed to drop him somewhere close to another revitalising meal.
Beautiful creature. Kudos to the rescuers.
Beautiful story for a beautiful creature, and with a happy ending! I was really touched to read this story after another headline today of a so called "dream hunt" where a beautiful 18 year old giraffe was hunted and killed for sport.
Heartwarming. You know that fox was in dire straits if he was willing to eat Vienna sausages.
lol
If only everyone were willing to go the extra mile like this
The iceberg looks like a whale tail
Faith in humanity slowly being restored.
I don't want to imagine how slowly...It was the right time for them to save that beautiful fox.
A beautiful animal and beautiful people ! Thank you !💖 💕 👏
I love that these wonderful people didn't pass this fox by. Every animal's life counts - especially now.
I'm glad they saved him/her
Awww,So precious,i hope it's somewhere safe and warm,bless the rescuers.
Good work doing the kind of stuff we all should do, showing love and compassion.
Awww poor thing...
Fantastic Mr..........
What a beautiful story. The fox's rescuers are wonderful people, and I hope that the fox enjoys the life that it has been given back.
Absolutely beautiful story and I hope that Fox remembers the kindness of those humans. 👍🏻👍🏻❤️❤️
So nice to read a heart-warming story for a change....
Good on those fishermen! Those foxes have a knack of turning up where they're not meant to be. I and a friend saw one in Tasmania.
I think Thank God for people who still have Empathy in todays world.! You are Awesome and while I saw him say Thanks. I too say Thank you for the wonderful act of kindness you showed
So glad they had the heart and nerve to rescue him, that would have been a horrible death. Bless them!
I love beautiful people like this. Going out of their way to reduce a helpless and doomed animal! There must be a special place in Heaven for good souls like this. I bet the poor little fox was grateful too.
So grateful to these people for rescuing Artic Fox!!! Could see gratitude on fox's face in one of the picture. Could use more people like them in this world! God Bless You!!!
Very sweet and satisfying story. Thank you, gentlemen! <3
Fishermen are special people. Good Luck Fox!
Bless you for your kindness xx
I'm glad they saved him :)
Just beautiful
the love in the foxes eyes. cute as!
If only more animal stories had such a happy ending. Poor foxy, hope he doesn't get trapped like that again!
I understand how we shouldn't mess with natural selection and all but if I were them I would 100% save him, too...
Next on bored panda,the Arctic fox addicted to viennese sausages😱
You guys are just brilliant, big hugs to you all.
Mallory Harrigan, Cliff Russell and Allan Russell, You guys are real hero's. Thank you for sharing this.
He's breathtaking!
Are artic foxes supposed to be fed junk food?
You guys were wonderful and kind for saving this little fox's life. I really hope some amazing karma rewards you someday.
All lives matter!! Well done!
I was riding as a passenger in a car with my sister. We were on a ramp heading onto an expressway when I saw what looked like a mangy cat on the side. We were a little up and I saw this animal crouching toward the wall looking scared. I screamed for her to pull over when we got to the bottom. I took off my sweater, ran to the top, through my sweater on it, and scooped it up. It was a baby coyote. Poor thing, all alone and scared. We were able to take it to a rehabilitation center with the help of some fellow Good Samaritans.
What a beautiful story, it's just shows how when we as humans use our abilities for the better we can do extraordinary things. That little guy gave up on life and if it wasn't for them men he wouldn't of made it. Big thanks to those fishermen
Weak story with the Amazon burning and the artic melting
Are you campaigning against the burning of the rain forests or to stop global warming ? I’m guessing not! Weak comment!
This comment has been deleted.
What incredible guys they are and good things happen to good people
So thankful it was found in time and rescued.
What a beautiful animal!!!
The crew will be rewarded in the Afterlife for their kindness.
This is lovely. What confuses me is how people are so moved by things like this, and then they have no problem wearing furs, eating animals, supporting animal agriculture, hunting (including cute foxes), etc. Would an article about "rescuing cows from slaughter and sending them to a green pasture" cause the same kind of reactions, or do people just learn to not care about certain animals, depending on where and what they are?
I am not completely moved I see your point and I agree as well but I also agree with everyone else. personally, I was thinking this is the circle of life weakest die strongest survive I know it is cold-hearted and sounds horrible but it is the truth that humanity just doesn't have to face. however I think it is sweet and a cute thing to do
And just then, a hawk swooped down and killed the fox!
They saved one life while on their way to kill many others. The disconnect is staggering.
It's people like Mallory Harrigan, Cliff Russell and Allan Russell who make this world a better, nicer, happier place to be. Love and compassion are beautiful qualities.
Absolutely agree with you 100%.
In a world where so many people perpetrate so much cruelty and destruction on so many others and against so much of the planet, it's heartwarming to see such a beautiful act of kindness. I found myself hoping that it was an especially big tin of sausages, or that they managed to drop him somewhere close to another revitalising meal.
Beautiful creature. Kudos to the rescuers.
Beautiful story for a beautiful creature, and with a happy ending! I was really touched to read this story after another headline today of a so called "dream hunt" where a beautiful 18 year old giraffe was hunted and killed for sport.
Heartwarming. You know that fox was in dire straits if he was willing to eat Vienna sausages.
lol
If only everyone were willing to go the extra mile like this
The iceberg looks like a whale tail
Faith in humanity slowly being restored.
I don't want to imagine how slowly...It was the right time for them to save that beautiful fox.
A beautiful animal and beautiful people ! Thank you !💖 💕 👏
I love that these wonderful people didn't pass this fox by. Every animal's life counts - especially now.
I'm glad they saved him/her
Awww,So precious,i hope it's somewhere safe and warm,bless the rescuers.
Good work doing the kind of stuff we all should do, showing love and compassion.
Awww poor thing...
Fantastic Mr..........
What a beautiful story. The fox's rescuers are wonderful people, and I hope that the fox enjoys the life that it has been given back.
Absolutely beautiful story and I hope that Fox remembers the kindness of those humans. 👍🏻👍🏻❤️❤️
So nice to read a heart-warming story for a change....
Good on those fishermen! Those foxes have a knack of turning up where they're not meant to be. I and a friend saw one in Tasmania.
I think Thank God for people who still have Empathy in todays world.! You are Awesome and while I saw him say Thanks. I too say Thank you for the wonderful act of kindness you showed
So glad they had the heart and nerve to rescue him, that would have been a horrible death. Bless them!
I love beautiful people like this. Going out of their way to reduce a helpless and doomed animal! There must be a special place in Heaven for good souls like this. I bet the poor little fox was grateful too.
So grateful to these people for rescuing Artic Fox!!! Could see gratitude on fox's face in one of the picture. Could use more people like them in this world! God Bless You!!!
Very sweet and satisfying story. Thank you, gentlemen! <3
Fishermen are special people. Good Luck Fox!
Bless you for your kindness xx
I'm glad they saved him :)
Just beautiful
the love in the foxes eyes. cute as!
If only more animal stories had such a happy ending. Poor foxy, hope he doesn't get trapped like that again!
I understand how we shouldn't mess with natural selection and all but if I were them I would 100% save him, too...
Next on bored panda,the Arctic fox addicted to viennese sausages😱
You guys are just brilliant, big hugs to you all.
Mallory Harrigan, Cliff Russell and Allan Russell, You guys are real hero's. Thank you for sharing this.
He's breathtaking!
Are artic foxes supposed to be fed junk food?
You guys were wonderful and kind for saving this little fox's life. I really hope some amazing karma rewards you someday.
All lives matter!! Well done!
I was riding as a passenger in a car with my sister. We were on a ramp heading onto an expressway when I saw what looked like a mangy cat on the side. We were a little up and I saw this animal crouching toward the wall looking scared. I screamed for her to pull over when we got to the bottom. I took off my sweater, ran to the top, through my sweater on it, and scooped it up. It was a baby coyote. Poor thing, all alone and scared. We were able to take it to a rehabilitation center with the help of some fellow Good Samaritans.
What a beautiful story, it's just shows how when we as humans use our abilities for the better we can do extraordinary things. That little guy gave up on life and if it wasn't for them men he wouldn't of made it. Big thanks to those fishermen
Weak story with the Amazon burning and the artic melting
Are you campaigning against the burning of the rain forests or to stop global warming ? I’m guessing not! Weak comment!
This comment has been deleted.
What incredible guys they are and good things happen to good people
So thankful it was found in time and rescued.
What a beautiful animal!!!
The crew will be rewarded in the Afterlife for their kindness.
This is lovely. What confuses me is how people are so moved by things like this, and then they have no problem wearing furs, eating animals, supporting animal agriculture, hunting (including cute foxes), etc. Would an article about "rescuing cows from slaughter and sending them to a green pasture" cause the same kind of reactions, or do people just learn to not care about certain animals, depending on where and what they are?
I am not completely moved I see your point and I agree as well but I also agree with everyone else. personally, I was thinking this is the circle of life weakest die strongest survive I know it is cold-hearted and sounds horrible but it is the truth that humanity just doesn't have to face. however I think it is sweet and a cute thing to do
And just then, a hawk swooped down and killed the fox!
They saved one life while on their way to kill many others. The disconnect is staggering.