By Ashley Stokes | Marine Mammal Rescue Manager
On Tuesday, January 8, we received a call on the SSC Marine Mammal Rescue hotline about a hooded seal, a species that migrates down from the Arctic during the winter. This is a species we rarely see; in fact, it’s only the second one since
If you see a seal on the beach, call the Seacoast Science Center Marine Mammal Rescue hotline at 603-997-9448
Rye, NH — Harbor seals bear their young during the months of May and June. As a result, the chance of seeing seals on our beaches, more specifically seal pups, increases. If you see a seal
On Sunday, March 18, 2018, the Seacoast Science Center Marine Mammal Rescue Team (MMRT) released Mack the harp seal back into the wild. After four weeks of care at the National Marine Life Center Mack was ready for his swim back to the Arctic. Nearly 1,000 people witnessed the event, held on the same
Read MoreOn Sunday, March 18, 2018, the Seacoast Science Center Marine Mammal Rescue Team (MMRT) released Mack the harp seal back into the wild. A “poster-child of a healthy harp seal,” Mack was fit, fat, and ready for his swim back to the Arctic after four weeks of care at the National Marine Life Center.
Read MoreThe Seacoast Science Center is widely known for on-site tide-pooling field trips but naturalists from the Center also bring educational programs out into the community. Recently, SSC Marine Mammal Rescue team leader Ashley Stokes visited St. Michael Parish School in Lowell, MA and presented information about marine mammals to students in grades 2 and
Read MoreYesterday, our team responded to a female harbor seal weanling (approximately 5 months old) in our own back yard—a few hundred yards from the Center, on the shore of Odiorne Point State Park. She was thin, alert and responsive, and clearly suffering from a severe mouth wound. It’s hard to say at this time what
Read MoreOn Sunday, October 8, our team responded to this female weanling harbor seal at Hampton Beach State Park near the jetty. It had good body weight and was alert and responsive, but had micro-abscesses along it’s body and discharge from the eyes. The team was planning on collecting this seal for rehabilitation with our friends
Read MoreWe had a great crew of 60 people aboard Newburyport Whale Watch’s Captain’s Lady III for our 3rd annual Save the Seals River Cruise on Saturday October 7th. Many thanks to our sponsors for the event: Newburyport Whale Watch, Blue Ocean Event Center and Merrimack Valley Events by Simply Elegant Catering.
Marine Mammal Rescue Team
Our MMR Team assists NOAA Marine Fisheries in responding to the northern MA coast. Below is a live female weanling harbor seal at Salisbury Reservation. The plan was to take her down to our friends at National Marine Life Center for rehabilitation, but shortly after transport began, she crashed quickly. She was taken to New
Read MoreWe continue to be busy, as weanling season is in full swing! Some of these weanlings are staying only a short time on the beach; others are coming back every morning and night but leaving through the busiest part of the day. With rehabilitation facilities still at capacity (they hope to open a few spots
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