Current Date: 15 Feb, 2026
{{entry.title}}

Estonians save a wolf from the ice by mistaking it for a dog

Two young construction workers in Estonia discovered what they thought was a dog caught in a frozen lake. They carried it to their car and brought him to an animal shelter, not realizing it was a wolf.

Unaware that they were going to load a wild wolf into their car, a group of kind-hearted Estonian workers hurried to save a puppy from a frigid river on Wednesday.

When the guys discovered the animal stuck in the chilly water, they were constructing the Sindi dam on the Parnu river.

They carried the frozen dog to a clinic for treatment after breaking through the ice.

It wasn’t until then that it became clear they were transporting a wolf.

Estonians save a wolf from the ice by mistaking it for a dog 1
The wolf was covered in ice when pulled from the near-frozen water. Photo Credit: Eupa

The wolf had low blood pressure when it arrived at the vet’s office, according to the Estonian Union for the Protection of Animals (EUPA), which could have contributed to its gentle behavior when the guys transported it to their car to warm it up.

One of the men, Rando Kartsepp, told the Estonian newspaper Postimees: “We had to carry him over the slope. He weighed a fair bit.”

He slept on my legs, seemed peaceful, and raised his head briefly when I wished to stretch them.

Veterinarians were unsure of the true nature of the huge dog, but a local hunter who was familiar with the wolves in the area was able to identify it as a young male wolf that was around a year old.

Estonians save a wolf from the ice by mistaking it for a dog 2
“He was calm, slept on my legs,” Mr Kartsepp said of the journey to the vet’s office. Photo Credit: Eupa

With this new knowledge, the clinic personnel made the decision to confine the wolf following treatment in case it lost its docility after healing.

The EUPA said that it had covered the cost of the animal’s care and that “fortunately, everything worked out well.”

The wolf survived its close encounter with death within a day and was later released back into the wild after being given a GPS collar by scientists from the national environmental agency.

The men who saved the wolf and the clinic’s medical staff, who did not hesitate to treat and care for the wild animal, are to be commended, according to EUPA, who also expressed their happiness with the ending of the story.

Hundreds of wolves live in Estonia, but only a small number of them have recently been collared. In general, they stay away from people.

It was chosen as Estonia’s national animal by a collection of environmental organizations last year.

Similar Stories
Couple reunites after 60 years apart

Couple reunites after 60 years apart

A Russian couple were reunited after being separated for 60 years. They were married for 3 days when the husband left to join the Red Army. They were unable to find each other until 60 years later when they randomly visited their hometown on the same day.

Abraham Crijnssen – The Ship That Disguised Itself As An Island

Abraham Crijnssen – The Ship That Disguised Itself As An Island

During World War II a Dutch minesweeper evaded the Japanese for eight days disguised as an island. The crew covered the decks in cut trees and painted exposed surfaces to look like rocks. They moved only at night and anchored closed to shore by day, eventually escaping to Australia.

Leo Grand: from homeless to mobile app developer

Leo Grand: from homeless to mobile app developer

In 2013, A young programmer offered a homeless man the choice between $100 cash or coding lessons. Leo Grand chose the lessons, and his first mobile app was “Trees for Cars," which helps drivers find carpooling partners.

24-year-old burglar beaten by retired boxer victim

24-year-old burglar beaten by retired boxer victim

A 24-year-old knife-wielding burglar attempted to get into the home of a 72-year-old senior in Oxford, England, in 2009, but was left battered, bruised, and pinned to the ground. Frank Corti, the elderly, turned out to be a former boxing champion.

How 'Brad's Drink' Became Pepsi-Cola

How 'Brad's Drink' Became Pepsi-Cola

Pepsi was first introduced as “Brad’s Drink” in New Bern, North Carolina, United States, in 1893 by Caleb Bradham, who made it at his drugstore where the drink was sold. It was renamed Pepsi Cola in 1898, named after the digestive enzyme pepsin and kola nuts used in the recipe.

A little girl survived a 1-hour submersion in freezing creek water

A little girl survived a 1-hour submersion in freezing creek water

On June 10, 1986, two-and-a-half-year-old Michelle Funk fell into an icy creek and was submerged for 66 minutes. When rescuers pulled her out of the water, she was not breathing, had no pulse, and appeared lifeless. The doctors used various techniques to rewarm her blood and bring her back to life. She was successfully resuscitated and went on to lead a healthy life.

The fearless Annie Lee Cooper

The fearless Annie Lee Cooper

Annie Lee Cooper was fired in 1963 after attempting to register to vote. She attempted it once more in 1965, but the sheriff ordered her to leave after prodding her in the neck with a club. She then punched him, causing him to fall to the ground. She was imprisoned before ultimately registering to vote. Following the passage of the Voting Rights Act, the sheriff was ousted and subsequently imprisoned for collaborating to transport drugs, but Annie Lee Cooper lived to reach 100 years old and bears her name to this day.