In Eurajoki, Finland, Maria Rae's dog, Blanca, uncovered peculiar slimy creatures from the grass last autumn. Initially, Blanca dug up something from the turf and promptly devoured a creature from a hole in the ground. After three encounters with the mysterious beings, curiosity piqued, Rae sought to identify them as the snow and ice melted away.

When Rae first noticed the creatures, she suspected they might be snakes, but they disappeared too quickly for confirmation. Subsequent observations led her to realize they were not snakes, which baffled her even further. Noticing their characteristics, she captured one of the creatures and brought it home for further examination. As she cleaned the creature from the soil, distinct fins began to appear, giving a clue to its marine nature.

Rae later took a photo and used Google to find that the creature resembled an eel. Despite the head being somewhat damaged, the distinct fins and tail suggested it is indeed an eel, marking an interesting discovery in her local ecosystem. This encounter raises questions about the biodiversity in the area and provides a personal anecdote of curiosity and discovery in nature, reflecting on the sometimes unexpected encounters that can occur even in familiar environments.