ALASKA AIRPORT RUNWAY CLOSED BY TRESPASSING GIANT SEAL
November 1st, 2017AIRPORTS are used to scaring and deterring birds, foxes, groundhogs and other small mammals from runways, but staff at the USA’s northernmost airport had a tougher challenge last month (October) – removing a 450lb bearded seal from a runway. The placid fish-eating sea mammal was sitting happily on the tarmac, preventing flights taking off and landing at Wiley Post–Will Rogers Memorial Airport, Utqiaġvik, near Pont Barrow, Alaska. Animal control specialists moved the seal, using a heavy-duty snow blower to coax it onto a sledge.
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