June
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 Pink monofilament netting entangled this young seal |
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The seal is captured in a hoop net
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| CCSN staff restrains the seal and work to remove the netting |
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The freed seal returns to the water!
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It is the height of the gray seal (Halichoerus grypus) season on Cape Cod, and CCSN has been responding to several reports of these seals each week. On the morning of May 29, 2007, CCSN received a call from the Chatham Beach Patrol reporting an entangled gray seal on the new North Beach island. CCSN’s seal disentanglement team was graciously escorted via boat to the animal by the Chatham Harbormaster. Upon arrival, staff observed a young seal that was entangled in a monofilament net that wrapped completely around her body from her neck to rear flippers. The entanglement had cut into the animal’s skin and blubber just behind her neck and was clearly inhibiting her ability to swim and feed. Staff carefully moved in behind the seal with crowder boards to prevent her escape into the water and captured the animal using a specially designed hoop net. While one staff member restrained the animal, others used surgical scissors to carefully remove the monofilament netting.
After successfully disentangling the seal, the staff completed a thorough health examination and collected basic data on the animal, such as length and sex. CCSN staff determined that the animal was robust (well-fed) and in good health, and cleaned and sterilized her wound. Since no rehabilitation space was available and the wound was determined to be non-life threatening, CCSN released the seal on-site and observed her returning to the water in Chatham Harbor. Encouragingly, CCSN later received reports that the animal had been sighted hauling out again in the area and appeared alert, active, and responsive. We are hopeful that this seal will make a full recovery – a feat that would not have been possible without the phenomenal community partners that we have in the Town of Chatham!
January
SEVEN DOLPHIN STRANDINGS IN 7 DAYS TRIGGERS EMERGENCY FUND FROM CAPE COD FOUNDATION
The high incidence of dolphin strandings on Cape Cod beaches in the past week and the inordinate cost of rescue equipment and supplies needed by the Cape Cod Stranding Network, the organization that provides rapid response, have prompted The Cape Cod Foundation in conjunction with The Perkel Family Fund to create the Cape Cod Stranding Network Emergency Fund .
Even as rescuers continue this evening to try to alleviate suffering for 5 more stranded common dolphins found on the beach in Wellfleet today, the exhausted staff and volunteers of the Cape Cod Stranding Network (CCSN) continue to need ambulance fuel, stretchers, blankets and medical supplies to provide necessary emergency response to the struggling marine mammals.
Both organizations decided it is time to act to make sure there are the needed funds to deal with an active stranding season. As of today, 21 common dolphins have stranded on beaches from Cummaquid to Wellfleet. 11 have died, 9 have been rescued and released, 1 has re-stranded.
“This Emergency Fund was made possible through the generosity of the Foundation’s Perkel Family Fund which will match donations dollar for dollar up to $5,000, said Foundation President, Elizabeth Gawron . “When an emergency occurs like the stranding of these dolphins in Cape Cod Bay, the Foundation is pleased to be able to react quickly and provide the support to help the Cape Cod Stranding Network do their important, life-saving work.”
The Cape Cod Foundation is a charitable community trust established to link community resources to community needs. CCSN Executive Director, Katie Touhey reacted; “Cape Cod is one of the top 5 “hot spots” for strandings in the world. We are seeing more and more marine mammals in distress. Every dollar of this kind donation will go to support our work. We cannot thank the Foundation and the Perkel family enough.”
For information on individual donations to the CCSN Emergency Fund, please call the Foundation 800-947-2322 or go to: www.capecodfoundation.org .
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, please contact:
Elizabeth Gawron, The Cape Cod Foundation: 508-790-3040
Katie Touhey, Executive Director and Senior Scientist, Cape Cod Stranding Network: 508-743-9805
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