Canadian family rescues mystery mammal


A family in a remote northwestern part of Canada thought they had rescued a puppy a week ago, but officials later informed them the animal was of a far wilder nature.

The pup was found abandoned near Marsh Lake outside of Whitehorse in the northwestern Canadian territory of Yukon over the Easter weekend. The animal is just over a week old.

The family thought it was a young dog, but officials who helped find it a surrogate mother disagree.

"Originally they thought it was a dog, but it wasn't a dog. Then they thought it might be an otter or a marten or a wolverine possibly," said conservation officer Dave Bakica.

Eventually wildlife officials determined the animal was probably a fox.

They say the animal has a white tip on its tails which young foxes also have. Since it has been spending time with humans it will not be released into the wild.

Instead it will go to a wildlife sanctuary.