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Leatherback Turtles Make An Appearance In South Carolina Waters!

Featured Image Credit: Jürgen Freund

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources releases a warning to boaters to watch out for Leatherback turtles, the world’s largest turtles.

According to SCDNR, these turtles range from 800 to 1,300 pounds and six feet in shell length.

The endangered species aren’t typically found in shore waters but SCDNR says the turtles are tracking their food sources- causing them to appear in South Carolina waters.

It is mentioned that the Leatherbacks are typically found between their feeding grounds of Nova Scotia and tropical beaches. Just like the Leatherback turtles, the cannonball jellyfish have been spotted in South Carolina waters following their food sources.

If you spot these animals to be injured, dead, or near shore waters call 1-800-922-5431.

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The Death Of One Whale Signals Larger Problem For All Marine Life

Featured Image Credit: SEA TO SHORE ALLIANCE
By Laura O’Brien

The North Atlantic right whale known as 3893 was a resilient female whale who researchers were able to document ninety times during her truncated life. When she was only three years old, 3893 survived a dangerous entanglement. Entanglement is a serious threat to whales, in fact, 3893’s brother was killed by entanglement when he was just one year old. Human activity killed her father last year as well. A necropsy on 3893’s dad showed blunt force trauma consistent with a ship strike. This January, six years after she survived her first documented entanglement, 3893 was found dead off the coast of Virginia. A necropsy revealed that she died due to chronic entanglement in abandoned fishing equipment.

A staggering amount of whales die all over the world due to entanglement. Each year, an estimated three hundred thousand cetaceans (such as whales) die from entanglement, but the amount of North American right whales that are killed annually is unknown. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declared an unusual mortality event for North American right whales last year. Due to the event, extra resources will be available for researchers to look into the issue. In the wake of so many deaths, 3893’s demise poses a significant risk to the North American right whale population.

The ten-year-old whale was approaching her reproductive prime when she was killed. The unfortunate whale was in a moderate state of decomposition when she was found. Although moderate decomposition is not ideal for the purposes of necropsy, the additional resources have allowed an extra investigation into 3893’s death and her overall health. Heather Pettis is an associate scientist at the New England Aquarium Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life and fills the role of administrator of the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium. When speaking about 3893’s death, Pettis stated, “(It’s) a devastating loss to a population already in decline”.

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Woman Gets Backlash After Posting Video Of Her Petting A Sea Lion In La Jolla

Featured Image Credit: PhotoByJohnbo.com

A woman posted a video with the caption “That time when I seriously thought that petting a sleeping sea lion was a brilliant idea” is now being reviewed by law enforcement and could face up to $11,000 in fines.

La Jolla is a favorite spot for some to take pictures of sea lions but there are signs posted stating that people should not touch the animals.

Lifeguards, city park rangers, and federal law enforcement are to monitor for people getting too close as they are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration suggest for people to say 50 yards away from sea lions and seals.

Image Credit: PhotoByJohnbo.com

The Marine Mammal Protection Act was put in place in the 70s to guard endangered species from harm. This allowed for sea lions to not be endangered today.

In regards to the incident the City of San Diego released this statement:

“The City of San Diego recommends the public keep a safe distance from sea lions hauled out in La Jolla Cove for their own safety and the safety of the animals. While they may look friendly and docile, sea lions are wild animals and have been known to bite, snap or chase people if they feel afraid or threatened which can result in serious injury. Additionally, while there is an effort to educate the public about the potential dangers of encroaching on marine life, a person can be cited per the City municipal code depending on the severity of the harassment.

A person can also be cited by NOAA in violation of federal law per the Marine Mammal Protection Act which can be punishable by criminal penalties up to $100,000 and one-year incarceration. Civil penalties up to $11,000 per count may also be assessed.”

Learn more from our source here.

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Dolphin Named “Number 864” In 2003 Spotted In Charleston Harbor

Featured Image Credit: Patrick Hardwood

A decade and a half ago, the worst concentrations of man-made carcinogens were found in the blubber of Charleston harbor dolphins. As a result, scientists pulled and tested some of the cetaceans to monitor the situation.

One of the dolphins tested was called “Number 864” in the federal dolphin health survey. 864 has been recently spotted swimming just off of Fort Johnson on James Island and seemed to be in surprisingly good health. This dolphin was originally found trapped in a crab pot line a decade and a half ago and is now 36 years old.

“The animals around here certainly do carry a not-so-insignificant amount of contaminants. Thirty-six, that’s impressive, I wish I could have seen him go by. Just being out there and swimming around, that’s something” says Eric Zolman, a National Ocean Service biologist.

According to sources including SeaWorld and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the average lifespan for a bottlenose dolphin is 20’s to early 40’s.

Patrick Hardwood, a South Carolina State University communications instructor was the one would saw Number 864 nearby and was able to snap a photo.

“It definitely looked healthy and big, too,” says Hardwood.

Zolman mentions when he was attempting to free the animal from crap trap line that he thought it was going to be a lot of work but the dolphin was so exhausted that it didn’t struggle.

Fifteen years later, “it’s great to see he’s still out there alive and kicking,” says Zolman said.

Learn from our source here.

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How Bees Are Being Used To Save Injured Sea Turtles

Featured Image Credit: Brevard Zoo

Right now, it’s a tough world for wildlife of any shape or size. From tiny honeybeeds to massive sea turtles, many species are facing threatening tribulations of their own. Thankfully – and surprisingly – each can help the other in their own survival.

Both Georgia Sea Turtle Center and Brevard Zoo’s Turtle Healing Center are using honey from bees to treat injured turtles.

The Brevard Zoo is a nonprofit that houses over 900 animals and represents 195 different species from around the world. They focus on animal wellness, education, and conservation.

“We regularly take in turtles that have been struck by boats or propellers or attacked by predators, which can lead to some pretty serious injuries,” said Melanie Stadler, the Zoo’s sea turtle program coordinator.

Harvested from the Zoo’s maintained beehives which are put in place for conservation and education purposes

Stadler also says “Honey has remarkable antibacterial properties that, when applied topically, help their wounds heal with a much lower risk of infection. We’re treating four patients with honey right now.”

The population of bees has been declining which leaves scientist and farmers alarmed. One thing that locals and people all around can do to protect the population of turtles and bees is to reduce their use of pesticides.

Stadler recommends for people to use a mix of saltwater and vinegar as an alternative that is safe for these animals as pesticides are poisonous to them.

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Rialto The Otter Once On The Brink Of Death Now Thriving At Vancouver Aquarium

Featured Image Credit: Alan Berner, The Seattle Times

Rialto, a rescued otter was once a sickly pup is restored back to health at the Seattle Aquarium.

Found on Rialto Beach by beachgoers, the Seattle Aquarium took him in on Aug. 1, 2016, and a month and a half later, he was transported to his permanent home at the Vancouver Aquarium.

Rialto was once the size of a placemat but is now as big as a 6-month old Labrador retriever pup. From being rescued from a young age he has become accustomed to human interaction from the beginning but found no problem adjusting to being with other otters in the aquarium habitat.

“To see him go from a hand-raised pup to a real otter, interacting with other otters, has been so rewarding,” says Kristi Heffron, a senior marine-mammal trainer at the Vancouver Aquarium.

Image Credit: Alan Berner, The Seattle Times

Rialto is now a high-energy sea otter who loves to spend time with his pals. When he is not eating, he is often found zooming around his tank, hopping on rocks and swirling, twirling, and diving in the water with his BFF Hardy.

“He’s just so curious and playful,” says Heffron.

Being a growing boy, Rialto eats six meals a day. Eating is one way for sea otters to keep their body temperatures up.

Another way sea otters keep their body temperatures up is maintaining the heat-trapping insulation of their thick fur. Rialto is constantly seen grooming himself to stay warm.

Learn more from our source here.

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East Coast Polar Bears Are Heading North Early This Year

Featured Image Credit: J.Lyle
By Sarah Sharkey

According to polar bears, spring has come early this year. The population of polar bears on the east coast of Canada has already started their annual migration north.

Shane Clarke, a Corporal in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, had this to say about the polar bears and their early travels, “Usually this will occur in April and May when we’ll see a few polar bears, but regarding March, this has been an unusually high number of polar bears for the area this time of year.”

Typically, this move starts to happen in April or May, but apparently,y the bears have decided to head north early. There have been a large number of sightings, but few incidences. With only a few things being damaged, police say that the move has been relatively smooth. So far, the only causalities have been a hot tub and a snowmobile, it is likely that there will not be too many other incidents.

Clarke also warned the public to keep their distance from these bears. Of course, they are adorable but these are still wild and powerful animals that could inflict damage on you if they felt threatened by your presence, especially if there are cubs involved. The best way to avoid an unfortunate encounter is to admire from a very long distance.

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Fishermen: Major Contributors To The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Featured Image Credit: The Ocean Cleanup

The “larger than Texas” collection of the world’s largest assortment of floating trash isn’t mostly plastic bottles, bags, and straws, but massive amounts of fishing gear.

“I knew there would be a lot of fishing gear, but 46 percent was unexpectedly high. Initially, we thought fishing gear would be more in the 20 percent range. That is the accepted number [for marine debris] globally—20 percent from fishing sources and 80 percent from land” says Laurent Lebreton, oceanographer, and the lead author or Ocean Cleanup.

The Great Garbage Patch located between Hawaii and California was first discovered in 1997 by Charles Moore who sailed through the debris on his way to Los Angeles.

Now, the patch is aimed to be cleaned up by the $32 million cleanup campaign, Ocean Cleanup, which has plans to launch a system to remove most of the fish gear later this year.

“The interesting piece is that at least half of what they’re finding is not consumer plastics, which are central to much of the current debate, but fishing gear,” says George Leonard, chief scientist at the Ocean Conservancy.

The Foresight Future of the Sea study estimated that the pollution of plastic in the ocean could triple by 2050 if no changes happen to improve the state of the sea.

Learn more from our source here.