Spring in Nome, like in most of Alaska, was late in arriving. Our sea ice is juuuuust now leaving our coastline this weekend.🥳 Today I joined some friends for a campfire on the beach, and talked myself out of wearing sandals at the last minute. I was later thankful for my persuasive self-talk, because windchill was still 39℉. 🥶 Nevertheless, we soaked up the sun on our faces, and returned home smelling of woodsmoke and seabreezes.
I pulled my camera out from its spare-closet grave this afternoon and brought it along for a “just in case moment.” I got one that I was NOT ready for.
After almost 8 years in Nome, I checked Muskrat off my list of Norton Sound Regional wildlife. After spotting a cluster of particularly fuzzy pussywillows behind our AC store, I pulled the car to the gravelly shoulder and hopped out to snap a photo. On the return to the car, I spied something scurrying in the bushes on the other side. I didn’t have a chance to change my camera settings to better capture *movement* so below are the ancient-cellphone-like quality snaps.
What I first thought might be a baby beaver was scampering into a run-off stream. The flowing water was only a couple feet wide, but the little creature swam up it and dove under when it noticed me.
I realized it had a skinny rat-like tail and was very furry, though soaked. It dawned on me that it must be a little muskrat! It froze under the water for what felt like a minute, and then came back up and went on its merry way, sideeyeing me with beady little black eyes.
It was fun to discover that there are still *new* things to experience here. Nome is full of surprises!
Hoping my next post will be of summer wildflowers; they’re already blooming up on Anvil Mountain! 😍
