Jan 2019
Deceased seal pups are valuable resources for science
Jan/20/19 06:21 AM
By far, the saddest task for Seal Sitters volunteers is recovering deceased animals. Recently, three young harbor seals were found dead on West Seattle beaches: on January 5 near Don Armeni boat ramp; on January 12 just north of the Harbor West Condominiums on Beach Drive; and on January 14 on the west end of Alki Beach.
Seal Sitters First Responders recognized the markings of the last animal. She was CeCe, first sighted resting on Alki Beach on New Years Eve. Over the next two weeks, CeCe hauled out and slept in the vicinity of the lighthouse. However, on the evening of the 14th, Seal Sitters responders discovered the pup had died on the beach.
SEALS NECROPSIED
The three carcasses were delivered to Dyanna Lambourn, Marine Mammal Biologist with WDFW MMI.Their necropsies will be part of a study focusing on lungworms (Otostrongylus) in harbor seals. This study is a continuation of the research Dyanna has been conducting on the infection-causing bacteria Brucella spp, which has been found in marine mammals and is the subject of four scientific papers co-authored by Dyanna. They suggest that the lungworm itself, rather than the harbor seal, is the preferred host of the Brucella infection.
Dyanna reports that all three animals were weaned female pups, markedly thin or emaciated. All had roundworms and mild to heavy lungworm infection. An unusual finding was that fully one-third of one pup's stomach was black and ulcerated from roundworm infestation.
SEAL SITTERS’ CONTRIBUTION TO RESEARCH
Seal Sitters is contributing in two ways to the scientific understanding of the life cycle of these parasites and how they affect marine mammals. First, by delivering the carcasses soon after death, Seal Sitters is providing researchers with the fresh tissue essential for meaningful pathology results. Second, Seal Sitters is helping financially by paying for some of the lab work, thanks to generous donations and past fundraising efforts.
Animals slated for necropsy are delivered to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife marine mammal lab in Lakewood.
Seal Sitters First Responders recognized the markings of the last animal. She was CeCe, first sighted resting on Alki Beach on New Years Eve. Over the next two weeks, CeCe hauled out and slept in the vicinity of the lighthouse. However, on the evening of the 14th, Seal Sitters responders discovered the pup had died on the beach.
SEALS NECROPSIED
The three carcasses were delivered to Dyanna Lambourn, Marine Mammal Biologist with WDFW MMI.Their necropsies will be part of a study focusing on lungworms (Otostrongylus) in harbor seals. This study is a continuation of the research Dyanna has been conducting on the infection-causing bacteria Brucella spp, which has been found in marine mammals and is the subject of four scientific papers co-authored by Dyanna. They suggest that the lungworm itself, rather than the harbor seal, is the preferred host of the Brucella infection.
Dyanna reports that all three animals were weaned female pups, markedly thin or emaciated. All had roundworms and mild to heavy lungworm infection. An unusual finding was that fully one-third of one pup's stomach was black and ulcerated from roundworm infestation.
SEAL SITTERS’ CONTRIBUTION TO RESEARCH
Seal Sitters is contributing in two ways to the scientific understanding of the life cycle of these parasites and how they affect marine mammals. First, by delivering the carcasses soon after death, Seal Sitters is providing researchers with the fresh tissue essential for meaningful pathology results. Second, Seal Sitters is helping financially by paying for some of the lab work, thanks to generous donations and past fundraising efforts.
Animals slated for necropsy are delivered to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife marine mammal lab in Lakewood.
New Year welcomes harbor seal visitors to shore
Jan/03/19 05:39 AM
It was 1pm on New Year's Eve when Seal Sitters First Responder Victoria received a call from Hotline Operator Cheri. A weaned harbor seal pup was resting in front of a private home at the western end of Alki Beach. Since this was just steps from the public promenade, Victoria set up a perimeter and with the help of Volunteer Rebecca, watched over the weaner.
A young child who stopped by for a look nicknamed the pup CeCe. The young seal, likely 4-6 months old, appeared to be in good health. Even though it was resting, it was very alert to activity around it. The perimeter was removed at sunset since CeCe’s location on the beach was not easily visible to anyone walking by.
CeCe left the beach and was not sighted again that evening.
On New Year’s Day, out for her first walk of 2019, off-duty First Responder Victoria spotted a small seal at Jack Block Park in a little pocket cove just below the sidewalk (photo above). She alerted Seal Sitters Hotline Operator Larry, who called First Responder Melinda.
An Emerald City Wanderers walk had been scheduled for New Year's Day and the route went right past the little seal. Excited walkers cheerily called out to the pup, trying to rest within feet of the elevated walk. Although Melinda and Volunteers Margy and Jay tried to control the noise, the pup, nicknamed Trickster, returned to Elliott Bay at 11am.
After 25 minutes with no sign of Trickster, the volunteers packed up and left. But before Melinda could reach home, someone reported the pup was back on the beach, with a crowd of admirers on the sidewalk above. Melinda turned around and headed back to Jack Block. Seal Sitters Scheduler Karin lined up volunteers in two hour shifts to help. Trickster rested almost 2 hours before going into the water.
This time, Melinda wisely decided to wait at the park. She says, "Sure enough, third showing is at 13:35!" Volunteers arrived for the next shift and stayed until dusk. Trickster was still on the little beach when Seal Sitters finally left for the day. Thanks to all of the volunteers who watched over Trickster.
During one of Trickster's appearances, the hotline received a call about a seal near CeCe's spot from the previous day. Before Melinda could check it out, the callers reported that the pup had gone back into the water. There was another call after dark about a seal near the Alki Lighthouse. Could CeCe have returned?
