Patient Update: August 12th, 2019

TURTLE RELEASE!! 

Our last three Kemp’s Ridleys from the sea turtle class of 2018 have been released! Scuttle, Tunbridge, and Ladybug had their veterinary exams last week, and we were able to see that they put on an average of 5 kg, or 11 pounds since taken into care at NMLC! Once the Cape Cod waters warmed up to around 75 degrees, they were approved to be released here, rather than down south. The trio was released off of Chappaquiddick island on the ocean side of the Cape. This will help get them on the right track and away from Cape Cod and the Long Island Sound to prevent restranding when the waters get colder. Knowing just what to do, the three swam away, heading south without looking back.

Seals

Pup season is well under way! Remember, it is illegal to be within 150 ft of any marine mammal in accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). If you feel like they’re sick/injured/need help, call your local stranding hotline:

• • IFAW: 508-743-9548; Cape Cod to Plymouth and south to the Rhode Island border
    
  • Marine Mammal Alliance, Nantucket: 833-667-6626; Nantucket Island
  • NOAA Fisheries: 866-755-6672; Martha’s Vineyard Island
  • New England Aquarium: 617-973-5247; Plymouth north to Gloucester
  • Seacoast Science Center:  603-436-8043; Gloucester, MA and New Hampshire
  • Marine Mammals of Maine: 1-800-532-9551; Maine south of Rockland
  • Allied Whale: 1-800-532-9551; Maine north of Rockland

Lily Potter, a female harbor seal pup, stranded in Milbridge, ME on 6/5 and was rescued by College of the Atlantic (COA) after being observed looking thin and dehydrated with a partial lanugo coat. Last week, we had noticed some discharge from Lily’s eyes, which is a possible sign of Phocine Herpesvirus 1 (PHV-1). It has since cleared up with the help of Terramycin, an antibiotic ointment that treats eye infections in animals. Lily is able to haul out of the water on her own, and has been loving her freedom with full time water access. She still needs assistance with eating whole fish, but once she is able to consistently position the fish correctly in her mouth she will be completely independent and one step closer to release!

BEHIND THE NAME Lily Potter was a muggle-born wizard and the late mother of Harry Potter.

Fleur Delacour, a female harbor seal pup, stranded on Philbrick’s beach in Rye, NH on 6/27. She was rescued and transported to us by our friends at the Seacoast Science Center all within the same day. Fleur was admitted to us with emaciated body condition, puncture wounds on her rear flippers, and her right eye missing, a potential result of PHV-1. 

Fleur has graduated from fish school! She no longer needs us to help her eat fish and has proved that she can do it all on her own! Fleur has gradually been getting access to water for longer periods of time as she is able to haul out onto the platform when she needs rest. She enjoys playing with her environmental enrichment devices (EEDs), which imitate floating objects that the animals can interact with. Seals are very curious- these keep them occupied and alert.

BEHIND THE NAME Fleur Delacour attended Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and was their participant in the Triwizard Tournament. She is also married to Bill Weasley, Ron Weasley’s older brother.

Bellatrix Lestrange, a female harbor seal weanling, was rescued by Seacoast Science Center on 7/6. She was found on Salisbury Beach, in Salisbury, MA, looking both emaciated and lethargic, and is a suspected human interaction case – for the full story check out SSC’s Facebook . Upon admit to NMLC the same day, Bellatrix was found to be bleeding from the mouth, as she still had her deciduous teeth, or baby teeth, while her adult teeth were growing in. After blood and stool samples were collected, it was evident that she was infected with tapeworms, roundworms, and flukes, a good indicator that she was already eating fish in the wild. 

Today, Bellatrix faces no problems with eating- she eats whole fish on her own and gobbles them fast! She does not have full access to water yet, as she has some trouble regulating her body temperature. However, she is spending an increasing amount of time in the water as her health progresses.

BEHIND THE NAME Bellatrix Lestrange was a pure-blood dark wizard who went on to become a Death Eater. Bellatrix was extremely loyal to Lord Voldemort.

Interested in joining our team?

Internship Opportunities:

We offer both a Marine Animal Rehabilitation & Education internship and a marketing internship. Applications for our spring semester are due by 11/1/19. Our spring semester is our longest, but offers a wider range of hands on experience as it overlaps with our cold-stunning season! Click here for more information.

Volunteer Opportunities:

We offer a wide range of volunteer positions in various departments. This includes but is not limited to: animal care team (18+), junior animal care (14+), administration, and fundraising.

To find out more please click here.

Posted by Shannon B. and Erin M.

Shannon is a summer intern and a junior at the University of Maine with a Marine Science major.

Erin is a summer intern and a senior at UMass Amherst with a Biology major.