strandings
strandings
UPDATE: Fin whale dies after stranding itself by the Indian River Inlet Bridge
RECENT STRANDINGS
February 9, 2020
MERR arrived in the early afternoon to a very young gray seal pup by the Lifesaving Station south of Dewey Beach. It was observed to have serious wounds around its neck, and given the youth of the seal, it was decided to transport the seal to a rehabilitation facility.
A team of eight MERR volunteers assisted in the rescue, crating and transportation of the seal to representatives at the National Aquarium in Baltimore.
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MARCH 19, 2019
MERR rescued a very robust yearling harp seal from a field up in New Castle yesterday. The seal had crawled out of the Delaware River and up into a field on the property of Occidental Chemical, near the refineries. Covered in mud and blending in with the grasses, this seal was very lucky to be found by the manager there, who reported him to us. Named "Jack" after the man who saved him, the seal was rescued by MERR and released down in Coastal Sussex. Jack was last seen making a hasty retreat into the water and heading straight out towards the ocean.
Meet Lily. She is a female gray seal pup that was sighted Saturday morning on the beach in Bethany Beach. MERR set up a watch throughout the day to monitor Lily, and to inform the public of her presence. She remained right at the water's edge, so close examination might have frightened her back into the water prematurely.
Utilizing binoculars, and close-up photos, MERR was able to determine that Lily had a mouth injury, and other potential wounds. She was underweight, but alert and enjoying the sunshine and some rest. MERR consulted with experts at the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in NJ, who believed that Lily had signs of a broken jaw.
Special thanks to the community at Ocean Village for their support, and to the MERR volunteers who put in very long hours to help get Lily to safety. And again, to the Drs. Geibel for their willingness to help this seal in need.
Meet Lily. She is a female gray seal pup that was sighted Saturday morning on the beach in Bethany Beach. MERR set up a watch throughout the day to monitor Lily, and to inform the public of her presence. She remained right at the water's edge, so close examination might have frightened her back into the water prematurely.
Lily the Easter seal
Scroll through the above slide show to see Lily's story and the help with MERR in getting her the help she critically needs.
February 27 2022
MERR rescued a young male harp seal in North Shores in Rehoboth this Tuesday. The seal was observed by a beachgoer who was concerned when he saw the seal rolling around on its back in the sand. This is sometimes an indication that the seal is infested with lice. Luckily for the seal, the beachgoer called MERR to report this little guy. The seal was assessed as being underweight in addition to his behaviors, so the decision was made to rescue him immediately. He was very alert and lively during the rescue, which is a good sign. He was collected from the beach and taken back to MERR for treatment and assessment, and then transported to the National Aquarium that evening for the remainder of his rehabilitation.
FENWICK HATCHLINGS
A female Loggerhead sea turtle nested in Fenwick Island on July 8th, 2018. The nesting female had only 3 flippers, but still managed to make her nest and lay 78 eggs. The nest had to be relocated due to its location in the tide zone, and the beach replenishment project. MERR's volunteers spent hundreds of hours monitoring the nest to help keep these little turtles safe, watching throughout the night, which is when the hatchlings are most likely to emerge.
The turtles were not tagged with any tracking devices. Loggerheads typically reach maturity at about 20 years of age, so it will be interesting to see if these little loggerheads return to the same beach on which they imprinted to lay their own nests.
We are happy that we were able to partner with DNREC to help 48 endangered loggerheads start their life in the ocean.
Dolphins frolicking in the Delaware Bay during our annual Dolphin Count.
Dolphins frolicking in the Delaware Bay during our annual Dolphin Count.
Scenes from MERR in action
Above are a number of photos from the various strandings in which MERR has played a part. We will update it periodically with information and new photos.
The Story of Phil, the wayward seal
Swimming his way up into the middle of the state, Phil certainly went where no known seal has gone before!