Eventually Had To Be Carted Off On A Sled To Reopen The Airport

Here's an "only in Alaska" moment. Imagine approaching to land at an airport in the northernmost town in the U.S. ... and encountering a 450 pound bearded seal sunbathing on the runway.

While we haven't heard reports of any attempted takeoffs or landing, we do know that the part about the seal is true. Television station KTVA reports that the animal was found on the runway at Wiley Post-Will Rogers Memorial Airport in Utqiagvik last Monday.

An Alaska DOT official said that the area experienced heavy storms on Monday, and the seal was found as airport personnel were clearing the runway. Other wildlife, like caribou, birds and even musk oxen are reportedly fairly common at the airport, but the bearded seal was a first.

DOT personnel are not allowed to approach animals at the airport, so North Slope Animal Control was called, which eventually had to use a large sled to haul the animal off the runway and get the airport reopened. Apparently the animal was quite content to soak up any heat that was in the runway pavement for a while.

Meanwhile, an ADOT employee posted a photo of the seal on Facebook, warning airport users of "low sealings".

Get it?

(Image from Facebook)

FMI: Original Report