Loon Trapped on Lake Near Nevis May Have Made it Off Lake After All

A loon named Gilligan stuck on a lake near Nevis, MN (Photo via Debbie Center on Facebook)

NEVIS (KDLM) – Gilligan, the juvenile loon that was stuck surrounded by ice on a lake in Nevis and became a viral sensation earlier this winter may have escaped after all.

The loon began receiving attention in early December as local resident, Debbie Center documented its situation on Facebook. Young loons usually wait until just before lakes freeze to migrate. This puts them in a precarious position as they need 100 to 600 feet of open water to get airborne due to their heavy bone structure.

Gilligan, appeared to be trapped in a pool of water just 25 feet across about 1,000 feet from shore and by the end of December when the lake was completely frozen over was feared dead. Center, however has revealed that a member of her lake association has come forward and claims Gilligan made it off the lake safely.

The woman who wants to remain anonymous says while ice fishing her husband witnessed Gilligan take flight and fly over the tree line on Dec. 19.

Loon rescue experts in Wisconsin, who Center has been in contact with say it could be possible citing incidents they have witnessed where loons were able to take off from small areas of open water and gain altitude over ice.

A happy ending for a loon that caught the world’s attention.