Zeal Goolseby
If you kept up with the news or our social media, you might have noticed the influx of white, fluffy seals we rescued last winter.
Those rescues are linked to a growing seal colony located on the Ice Breakers and outer wall in Delaware Bay. Mother seals are pupping on this colony, but these pups are easily washed off the rocks by strong winds on high tide days.
They ultimately wash ashore on our beaches, separated from their mothers too early, thus needing rescuing so they get the care they need in a rehabilitation center. The weeks after birth are critical for pups, as they can double their weight feeding off their mother's fat-rich milk before they are left to fend for themselves.
The MERR Seal Survey Team spent last winter monitoring the colony, recording data such as:
the number of seals
number of pups
behaviors and activity
location
surrouding atmospheric conditions
The Seal Survery Team went out at least once a month on board vessels with Cape Water Tours and surveyed the colony from afar. Though it was frigid and even snowing on some of the oberservational days, the curious, wide-eyed faces of the research subjects kept them coming back for another glimpse and fueling the need to protect the colony.
Thanks to MERR’s partnership with Cape Water Tours, MERR was able to use their boats and record the aforementioned data. The touring company has adopted MERR’s morals and guidelines of keeping the government-regulated 150 feet away from marine life, thus minimizing seal harassment and educating boat passengers on the correct way of viewing wildlife.
Through these surveys, MERR can watch for trends, such as the increase in the amount of seals in the colony, the number of newborn pups, observe any seals suffering entanglements as well as monitor human interaction, like boat proximity to the colony. MERR will also gather photographic evidence that will be used in an identification database to examine changes in numbers and behaviors over longer periods of time.
This upcoming seal season, the Seal Survey Team will be back on the water, photographing the seals in addition to their current data collection. These photos will be crucial in the protection and conservation of these animals. The survey team will focus on capturing spot and fur patterns.
As identified seals return each winter, MERR will learn more about their personality (”That seal returns to the same rock each year!”), their health (“He’s looking a little thin this winter.”), pupping trends ("That's the same mother with a new pup this year!"), and our ultimate goal of learning where they began their journey to the Delaware Bay (“The North Pole?!").
So keep a lookout for next winter’s update, when we will hopefully have cute seal mugshots to share!
