Current Date: 09 Mar, 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
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.

The WWII Parachute Wedding Dress

The WWII Parachute Wedding Dress

Major Claude Hensinger jumped out of a B-29 bomber during World War II when the engine caught fire. He was saved by his parachute. Later, he requested that his fiancée Ruth make him a gown out of the same parachute. The dress is now on display at the Smithsonian Institute.

Before "The Rock," There Was "Rocky Maivia"

Before "The Rock," There Was "Rocky Maivia"

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s first WWF persona was Rocky Maivia, a face (good guy). The audience rejected him due to his cheesy character, with chants of “Die, Rocky, die!”. After this, he became a heel (villain), referring to himself in the third person as “The Rock” and insulting the audience.

How hero parrot saved little girl who was choking on her breakfast

How hero parrot saved little girl who was choking on her breakfast

In 2008 Quaker parrot Willie alerted his owner Megan Howard when the little girl she was babysitting began to choke. Howard was in the bathroom when the parrot repeatedly yelled "Mama! Baby!" flapping his wings. Megan rushed and performed the Heimlich maneuver, saving her life. Willie received the Red Cross Animal Lifesaver Award.

Australian man dies, comes back to life, and wins the lottery twice

Australian man dies, comes back to life, and wins the lottery twice

Bill Morgan, an Australian, is a man who has beat the odds. He escaped death by surviving a horrific automobile accident and heart attack before collapsing into a coma and going on to win the lotto twice. He went from losing virtually everything to winning far more than he could have imagined.

A subway in Chongqing passes through a building (images)

A subway in Chongqing passes through a building (images)

A train has been constructed through an apartment complex in Chongqing, China. The 19-story residential structure is not only passed by the light rail passenger train, but it also serves as a transit stop. Apartment residents can simply get a ride from the sixth to eighth levels.

Who invented the three-point seat belt?

Who invented the three-point seat belt?

While employed by Volvo in 1959, Swidish engineer Nils Bohlin created the three-point safety belt. Volvo first had the design patented, but soon as they discovered its importance as a new safety measure, they made the patent open to everyone. Millions of lives were genuinely spared by Volvo’s gift to the world.

How Magic Johnson Missed Out On $7 Billion Nike deal

How Magic Johnson Missed Out On $7 Billion Nike deal

Magic Johnson turned down a deal with Nike in 1979 that offered him 100,000 shares of stock and $1 for every pair of shoes sold. Instead, he chose Converse, which offered him $100,000 per year. Johnson lost about $5 billion by declining the Nike deal.

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.

ILOVEYOU Virus, the worst computer virus of all time

ILOVEYOU Virus, the worst computer virus of all time

The ILOVEYOU Virus, also known as Love Letter for You or Love Bug, had a high infection rate due to its ability to spread itself by copying entries from users' email address books. It is a virus that was created in 2000 by a college student in Manilla, Philippines, and was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the worst computer virus of all time, causing more damage than anything before it.