Hunter in Ulukhaktok, N.W.T., discovers elusive sand lance in loon's mouth

A hunter in Ulukhaktok, N.W.T., took home a surprising prize on a recent hunting trip an elusive fish that scientists spent all summer looking for in the northern community.

Sand lance are tiny fish, only about 15 centimetres long, and are known for burrowing into the sand or gravel onthe sea bottom. They're also known for being extremely difficult to catch, scattering as soon as they sense movement.

Researchers with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans spent the last summer in Ulukhaktok trying to trap some of the fish, but didn't have any luck.

But Adam Kudlak found the sand lance in anunexpected way.

"We were out hunting some ducks and some seals that day and we got lucky and caught some loons," he explained.

"When we got the loon into the boat, we started looking at the beak and we thought, 'Oh cool, the loon was chasing some of these fish and it's got some in its mouth before they were swallowed.'"

Kudlak says sand lance are a delicacy for Inuvialuit people, but he decided not to keep the fish.

He sent them to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, where researchers are currently analyzing them.