Dog that went missing returns home after surviving a 150-mile journey across Alaska's sea ice
By RoseKiss
Meet Nanuq, a one-year-old Australian shepherd owned by Mandy Iworrigan of Gambell, Alaska, miraculously survived a 150-mile trek across Alaska. Last month, while visiting Savoonga with her family, Nanuq and their other dog Starlight disappeared in the tundra of St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea, as reported by Anchorage Daily News. Despite her uncle's reassurances that dogs often return, Mandy feared the worst as her beloved pets were gone for an extended period.
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The family got some good news weeks later when Starlight turned up, but Nanuq was still nowhere to be found.
But then, a dog was spotted in Wales, 150 miles northeast of their home — a dog that looked just like Nanuq.
“My dad texted me and said, ‘There’s a dog that looks like Nanuq in Wales,’” Mandy told the Anchorage Daily News. Locals had shared photos of the lost dog on Facebook, and when Mandy checked the site she realized it really was Nanuq.
“I was like, ‘No freakin’ way! That’s our dog! What is he doing in Wales?’”
That part is still a mystery. Nanuq survived weeks in the tundra, traveling across 150 miles of sea ice. The owner suspects he may have survived by hunting seal and birds.
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“I have no idea why he ended up in Wales. Maybe the ice shifted while he was hunting,” Mandy said.
Nanuq was also found with a swollen leg with two large bite marks. It’s not clear what caused the bites: possibly a wolverine, seal or small polar bear. But considering everything he went through, Nanuq is in surprisingly good health.
Mandy used airline points to cover the expense of bringing Nanuq home. There are no direct flights from Wales to St. Lawrence Island, but Nanuq was able to board a charter flight transporting student athletes.
Nanuq's remarkable journey back home turned him into a local sensation, and people were amazed by his tenacity and survival instincts. Although his owner, Mandy, can only imagine what the two dogs encountered during their time in the tundra, she believes they would have an incredible tale to tell if they could speak. In Mandy's words to Anchorage Daily News, "If dogs could talk, both of them would have one heck of a story." This journey was nothing short of remarkable, and we are delighted that Nanuq made it back home safely.
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