Category: Animals
Breakfast at Patty’s
This morning I joined volunteer Wendy for breakfast at Patty’s! Actually, she was the only one eating but it was fun to watch. Despite the severe infection that has caused her to lose most of her top shell (“carapace”), Patty has not lost her appetite. It’s one of the factors that lend us the greatest […]
Wearin’ o’ the Green
In honor of St. Patrick’s Day…. There is one sea creature that embodies “wearin’ o’ the green” – the Green Sea Turtle. Green turtles are named not for the color of their exterior but for the color of their interior! Adult greens have green fat! You are what you eat! And in the case of […]
The Inside Scoop
To investigate what is really going on inside we took Patty to WHOI for another CAT scan, so what did the ‘cat’ have to say about the turtle ? There is a new shell forming under the pink tissue we call the pseudo-shell, this is good news but at this point the new shell is […]
Shell Game
Patty continues to loose aspects of her top shell, called the carapace, secondary to the damage caused by the exposure to freezing temperatures almost a year ago. The delayed tissue lost is a consequence of micro-vascular damage and a lost of blood flow to the shell (avascular necrosis) which resulted in bone death. Patty is […]
Ultrasound for Patty
Today, Dr. Williams performed an ultrasound scan on Patty in order to assess her liver and urinary bladder. Patty’s infected shell requires antibiotics, however these medications can be hard on the liver. In order to watch for liver damage, Dr. Williams periodically draws blood samples and submits them for testing. He uses ultrasound to image […]
What to do if you see a stranded seal
While walking my dog on the beach in Sandwich this evening, I came across some beachgoers looking at something on the beach. With Shanti on leash, I wandered a little closer to check out the situation. Without getting too close, I could see the “something” was a young seal pup. I called the IFAW Marine […]
Recycle your gadgets and save marine animals!
Did you receive any great new gadgets over the holidays? Here’s a great way to recycle your old electronics responsibly AND save marine animals at the same time! The National Marine Life Center is having a “Gadget Drive” through www.gazelle.com. Gazelle accepts used electronics, including Cell Phones, Laptops, Digital Cameras, MP3 Players, Video Games, PDAs, […]
Seals and Climate Change
Finally I thought about seals. Seals are adaptable. Seals can handle temperature variation. Sounds good so far! Many seals depend on the ice for pupping…. uh oh. According to a Climate Institute report by Luisanna Carillo-Rubio, harp seal pups are already dying due to lack of sea ice on which they rest. Additionally, seals’ prey […]
Whales and Dolphins and Climate Change
So then I started wondering – what about cetaceans? Heck, wouldn’t a whale, dolphin, or porpoise love climate change? More water, warmer water, more places to forage. Turns out, that’s not the case…. According to the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society: “Changes in sea temperature, freshening of seawater, sea level rise, loss of icy polar […]
Sea Turtles and Climate Change
As this week’s United Nations Convention on Climate Change wraps up in Copenhagen, I thought it would be worthwhile to consider the effects of climate change on sea turtles. According to the Sea Turtle Restoration Project, who recently completed a report on the topic and presented it in Copenhagen, sea turtles are impacted by climate […]
National Marine Life Center
🚨🐢 New video is now available on PATREON! Subscribe for just $5 a month! 🐢🚨 In this video, Marine Wildlife Rehab Director for the NMLC,
National Marine Life Center
Time for an update on Nutty Buddy: We're still in the midst of lungworm treatments and the breathing complications that come with it, but overall
National Marine Life Center
The time has come to announce the winner of our 2025 Seal Patient Naming Theme! The winner is 🥁🥁🥁🥁 Stars, Planets, and Constellations! We can't