Portland Couple Left Speechless By Mysterious ‘Arctic’ Animal Wandering Near Railroad Tracks

On what began as just another ordinary day, Richard Melling and his wife set out for a walk across the Sellwood Bridge in Portland, Oregon.

They never expected that within minutes, their stroll would turn into a once-in-a-lifetime encounter that left them completely speechless.

As they passed the old railroad tracks nearby, they suddenly spotted a small figure watching them from just a few feet away. At first glance, it almost didn’t feel real.

The animal’s fur was pure white, like it had been plucked straight out of the Arctic and dropped in Oregon by mistake.

Instead of darting off in fear, the mysterious creature stayed put. In fact, it seemed almost playful.

Credit:  Audrey Zimmerman

Richard later recalled in an interview how the animal batted around some stray plastic bags on the ground, looking more like a silly, happy puppy than a wild animal, sharing:

“It definitely looked wild, and it looked like a puppy. It was like a very, very happy puppy.”

But he soon realized this was no ordinary dog.

Richard and his wife stopped about 40 feet away, just close enough to capture the incredible moment on video. They shared the footage with OregonLive, and that’s when the real mystery began.

The video quickly caught the attention of biologists at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Experts identified the animal as some kind of fox, though they couldn’t quite agree on what kind.

Credit: Bird Alliance of Oregon

Biologist Benjamin Cate noted that while white coats can occur in red foxes, this animal’s features didn’t quite match up. Her ears and snout looked different, making her difficult to identify.

Since she was still young, it added to the confusion. Cate shared:

“This animal looks closer to an arctic fox than any fox native to our area. It is potentially some kind of hybrid animal that escaped from captivity, however, we can’t 100% rule out that it is a wild leucistic (white) gray fox either.”

For a moment, it really did seem possible that she was a true Arctic fox.

But considering that this species typically lives in the frozen landscapes of Greenland, Alaska, northern Russia, and Canada, thousands of miles away from Portland, it seemed almost impossible.

Credit: Bird Alliance of Oregon

Still, there was no denying that her snowy coat made her look like she had walked right out of a winter wilderness.

Zuriel Van Belle, the executive director of the Portland Urban Coyote Project, later explained that while mutations causing white coats are rare, they can happen.

Yet the mystery deepened when rescuers finally managed to capture the animal and bring her to the Wildlife Care Center of the Bird Alliance of Oregon.

There, the truth was confirmed: she really was an Arctic fox. Somehow, against all odds, this little wanderer had found her way to Portland.

Even more surprising than her identity was her behavior. Unlike wild foxes that usually avoid humans at all costs, this one showed no fear at all. In fact, she willingly approached people, almost as if she was used to being around them.

Credit: Bird Alliance of Oregon

The Bird Alliance team explained that the Arctic fox likely came from captivity, since she showed no fear of people and even approached them. They believe she either escaped or was abandoned by those who kept her illegally.

Sadly, this isn’t uncommon. Wild animals are sometimes kept as exotic pets, even though they aren’t meant to live that way.

It’s not just unsafe for people; it can be devastating for the animals, who may never be able to return to their natural habitat.

Thankfully, despite her ordeal, this little fox was found to be in good health. She was given proper food, water, and medical care, along with the compassion she desperately needed.

While her past may forever remain a mystery, one thing is certain: this extraordinary fox is finally safe.

I can only hope that she found her way to a sanctuary where she can live out her days with the dignity and care she deserves.