November 24, 2012 Leatherback Sea Turtle Examination

-
The NECWA team! Staff and volunteers working together.
Amanda and Jamie with the leatherback carcass. 
Leatherback Sea Turtle Examination at Humarock Beach, Scituate MA.

Michael next to the leatherback carcass.
Today, NECWA staff and volunteers headed to Humarock Beach in Scituate to find and examine a dead leatherback sea turtle reported in this area the day before. Rick Foley, a resident of Humarock, found this carcass just a few hundred feet from his house. 

Tiffany, Patty, Rick, Michelle, Amanda and Jamie.
The NECWA team consisted of a nice mix of young and old. We had NECWA staff members Patty, Tiffany and Krill along with volunteers Michelle and Michael. We also had two young ones with us. We had Michelle's daughter Amanda and my son Jamie. They were very interested in our examination of the sea turtle carcass and had a lot of fun chasing the waves. Needless to say they were totally soaked by the time we were ready to head home. 

Amanda and Jamie having fun chasing the waves. 
Michelle holding the phone for Krill since her gloves are quite messy.
Thanks to everyone who assisted today in this examination. We met new friends and learned a lot through our examination of this carcass. We collected photographs, body measurements and tissue samples and this material will be provided to MA Audubon at Wellfleet Bay to support their research on sea turtles in the New England area.

Collecting measurements on the carcass. 
Tiffany measuring the carcass.  
From our examinations, it is difficult if not impossible to say why this young leatherback sea turtle stranded and died. But this is the season where many sea turtles wash ashore, live and dead, due to cold-stunning. Although we hate to see any animal wash ashore dead, each carcass provides valuable information that will help us better understand and protect those living animals in our water. 

Tiffany and Krill measuring the carcass. 
Tiffany and Krill measuring the carcass. 
 Much thanks to Rick for all his help and support.  And thanks to Michelle, Amanda, Michael and Jamie for their help and support as well.

Getting a look at the throat spines on this leatherback. 
NECWA is an organization that includes anyone and everyone who has an interest and love of nature. We are successful for we are a team of staff members, interns and volunteers who care enough to get involved. Everyone has a big role to play in helping to protect coastal marine wildlife and we encourage one and all to get involved in any way that you can.

Tiffany and Krill with the left flipper. 


Examinations. 
If you see a stranded ocean sunfish, please call Krill at 508-566-0009. If you see a stranded torpedo ray or sea turtle, call MA Audubon (day or night) at 508-349-2615 x104. If you find a sea turtle, do not push the animal back into the water. Call MA Audubon right away so their staff can retrieve the animal as quickly as possible. 

Krill at work.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Electric Torpedo Ray of New England

-
Image
The Shocking Ray of New England Blog by  Coleman Earner - December 21, 2020 Dead Torpedo Ray in Brewster, MA Torpedo Rays are a genus of rays that are part of the Order  Torpediniformes (electric rays). In reference to local sightings, the most commonly seen torpedo ray in the Cape Cod region is the Atlantic Torpedo ( Torpedo nobiliana ). They are cartilaginous fish (most similar to the structure of sharks and skates) with a flat and rounded disc-like structure. As suggested by their order, torpedo rays are most commonly known for their ability to discharge electricity of up to 220 volts from both pectoral fins (pectoral fins are flat and expanded and fused to the head area) as a self defense mechanism or as a means of capturing prey. Their feeding strategy consists of burying themselves under the sand and waiting for unsuspecting prey to wander by.  Dead Torpedo Ray on a Cape Cod Beach. Torpedo Rays feed mainly on benthic/pelagic fish such as flounders, damselfish, and other small fis
Read more

Ocean sunfish stranding at Linnell Landing - October 9, 2010

-
Image
This afternoon, Chris called about an ocean sunfish that stranded dead at the end of Linnell Landing in Brewster, MA. Krill Carson along with two NECWA interns, Nick Schomburg and Caitlyn Dionne, headed down or met at Linnell Landing in the late afternoon. When they arrived on the shores of Cape Cod Bay, a crowd was gathering around the ocean sunfish carcass that was just off the beach parking lot. This sunfish was almost 6 feet in length and some of the beachgoers indicated that it had come up on the beach around 2 pm that day. At first, it was difficult to look at the deep propellor scars that cut through the dorsal (top) surface of the sunfish and extended into its left flank. But sunset was quickly approaching so this team focused at the task at hand, that was collecting body measurements as well as tissues from this carcass. Nick and Krill conducted a Level A exam on the carcass and Caitlyn took pictures as well as recorded data. Krill was able to determine that this animal was
Read more

September 21, 2013 - Successful Beach Cleanup at Scusset Beach State Reservation

-
Image
NECWA staff members Leah, Jane, Mary and Tammy. Squid egg cases.  Beach Cleanup at Scusset Beach We had a very successful beach cleanup this morning down at Scusset Beach State Reservation. Over 20 people joined us to help pick up the beach trash along the shores of Scusset Beach, a beautiful sandy beach at the mouth of the Cape Cod Canal. Joining us for this events were students from Bourne High School and Mass Maritime Academy as well as member of the general public. Kids young and old helped NECWA staff and interns pick up and record the type of marine debris that washed up on the beach.  Mass Maritime making a difference.  Mass Maritime students helping out.  This beach cleanup is part of a larger effort through COASTSWEEP, the Massachusetts-wide coastal cleanup that occurs during September and October. And our beach cleanup at Scusset Beach is in conjunction with the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), Captain John Boats and Plymouth Whale W
Read more