An Unexpected Meeting on the Ice
The seal’s dark snout poked through a jagged crust of white ice.
A few inches of packed snow threatened to close off the tiny breathing hole completely.
A woman wearing a thick green jacket and a black backpack walked across the frozen plain and stopped a few feet away.
She slowly lowered herself to her knees, keeping her movements steady to avoid scaring the animal.
The pup blinked its large, dark eyes as her shadow fell over the opening.
She reached into her gear bag and pulled out a stiff wooden brush.
Her black insulated gloves gripped the handle firmly as she positioned herself over the wet opening.
The seal shifted slightly, its whiskers twitching as it watched her hand approach the rim.
Clearing a Path to Breathe
She leaned forward, bracing her gloved hand against the cold ice shelf.
With short, deliberate strokes, she swept the loose powder away from the edge of the hole.
The brush bristles made a scraping sound against the hard pack, sending white flurries into the air.
The seal remained still, its head bobbing slightly in the dark water below.
Each sweep of the brush widened the circle of light entering the icy chamber.
She brushed away the last chunk of crusty ice that had constricted the pup’s space.
She sat back on her heels, placing the brush beside her on the snow.
The pup shifted its weight, raising its chin higher out of the water.
It let out a soft huff of air, its nostrils flaring as it took in the cold wind.
The researcher remained quiet, watching the pup’s chest rise and fall rhythmically.
Taking the First Bold Steps
The researcher lifted a pair of black binoculars to her eyes, scanning the wider ice field.
Another dark shape emerged from a second hole a few yards away.
The first pup pressed its front flippers against the icy rim of its cleared exit.
It wriggled its spotted torso, pulling its entire weight out of the water and onto the flat surface.
The wet fur on its body glistened against the bright white landscape.
It dragged itself forward, leaving a faint wet trail behind its path.
The second seal watched from its own clearing as the pup approached.
The pup used its front claws to grip the slippery surface, pulling its round belly across the snow.
The researcher lowered her binoculars, keeping her hands steady on her lap.
Returning to the Deep
The two spotted animals met on the open snow, leaning forward until their wet noses touched.
They lingered together for a brief moment before the first pup turned back toward the dark water.
With a quick slide, the animal plunged headfirst back into the opening, disappearing beneath the surface.
The second seal quickly followed, sliding backwards into its own hole with a soft splash.
The woman stood up, brushing the loose snow off her black pants.
She took an orange marker flag and pushed the thin metal rod deep into the snow next to the hole.
She turned and walked away toward the horizon, leaving footprints behind her in the fresh snow.
Pass this along to someone who needs a reminder of how small actions can change an animal’s day.