SeaLife Updates: December 2021 Edition |
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Saving One Green Sea Turtle with a Multitude of Heroes! |
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All photos taken under U.S. Fish and Wildlife permit. |
| On November 16, a juvenile green sea turtle washed onto Washington’s remote Shi Shi beach, extremely weak and barely able to move.
The turtle desperately needed help, and a Makah tribal member launched an heroic rescue effort starting with a 2.5-mile hike from the Neah Bay beach, leading to a private charter flight and transport to the Seattle Aquarium via SR³’s marine wildlife ambulance. |
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Named Shi Shi (pronounced Shy Shy) by her Makah rescuer, this endangered sea turtle is probably from a population that nests on the beaches of Michoacán, Mexico. As she migrated up the West Coast, she was likely blown into cold Washington waters by our violent November storms. In cold waters sea turtles suffer a type of hypothermia called cold stunning which makes them unable to eat or swim.
The awaiting veterinary team determined that Shi Shi weighed only half what she should, had a body temperature of only 48 degrees (it should be around 75), and a heart rate of only1 beat per minute (it should be 14). |
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Thanks to the Makah tribe, USFWS, NOAA, and a team of dedicated Seattle Aquarium caretakers, Shi Shi is now slowly gaining strength at the SR³ Rescue Center with the help of kind people like you. Still fighting pneumonia and a lagging appetite, her fight for survival goes on. We all hope that Shi Shi continues to heal and can joyfully return to the wild in the new year.
Green Sea Turtles were declared endangered in 1978, but their populations continue to decrease due to vessel strikes, entanglement in fishing nets, loss of nesting habitat from coastal development, and climate change. Sea turtle strandings increased 43% this year in WA and OR.
Remember: If you find a sea turtle on a Pacific Northwest beach, it’s always a life-threatening emergency; please immediately call the Marine Mammal Stranding Network Hotline at 866-767-6114
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Celebrating Harbor Seals’ Return to the Wild |
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It was a busy summer at SR³ with a total of 37 harbor seal patients at our Rescue Center! All received specialized medical care and attention while enjoying amenities rivaling the finest human resorts: swimming pools, sun decks, and all day in-pool dining. Nothing is better than home, though, and on November 2 four harbor seals (Maury, Cascade, Piccolo, and Sprinter) returned to the wild together. |
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We thank Seal Sitters and World Vets for monitoring the pups and bringing them to SR³ at the start of their rehabilitation journey.
Over the winter we expect to see a wider variety of species in need of care, such as sea turtles like Shi Shi, sea lions, sea otters, and Guadalupe fur seals. Thank you for making all of this life-saving care possible! |
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Seals and Sea Lions Under Attack - Horrific Shootings in our Waterways |
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Once hunted nearly to extinction, seals and sea lions were first protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 which makes it a U.S. Federal crime to harass, hunt, capture, collect, or kill marine mammals.
Yet SR³ and our stranding network partners respond to numerous gunshot cases every year – and those are just the reported incidents. |
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Necropsies (animal autopsies) indicate that these animals often suffer from shattered vertebrae, broken ribs, and internal organ damage before they die. These illegal, senseless, and inhumane shootings must stop. Learn more about shootings of seals and sea lions - some right in Puget Sound waterways - in our blog ››
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Remember: If you witness a marine mammal shooting or hear gunfire over the water, call 911. If you see an injured or dead marine mammal, call the Marine Mammal Stranding Network Hotline at 1-866-767-6114. |
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Aerial images of Puget Sound gray whales (upper left), Southern Resident killer whales (upper right) and Bigg’s killer whales (bottom). Images were collected non-invasively using a multi-copter drone from an altitude of >100ft under NMFS Permit #s 19091 & 22306. |
| It has been another successful year monitoring the health of Southern Resident killer whales (SRKWs), Bigg’s killer whales, and gray whales locally in the Salish Sea! This year we also started new comparative studies of killer whales in Alaska. Primarily, aerial images of SRKWs were collected in seven months, increasing our ability to detect seasonal changes in body condition and adding to a 14-year study of health. |
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Our research was directly used by the State of Washington to manage whale-watch vessels in response to our identification of whales in vulnerable condition. We also published six scientific papers, increasing the recognition and impact of our science on marine mammal populations. Thank you for your support this year that helped make this research possible! |
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Protecting the Salish Sea: It Starts with Us
If you enjoy a good documentary but your Netflix queue is empty, head to YouTube for a video featuring SR³’s Casey McLean!
Hosted by SR³ partners at Private Ocean and the Center for One Health Research, this is an informative and inspiring presentation featuring SR³’s efforts to protect marine wildlife against climate change impacts in the Salish Sea. There are actions each of us can take to make a difference.
Watch the presentation on YouTube: Beneath the Surface: Protecting the Salish Sea and its Marine Life. |
| State of the Sound Report 2021: How We Can Make a Difference
The Puget Sound Partnership Leadership Council published its 2021 State of the Sound report, and the findings are sobering. The Southern Resident orca population hovers at 73 animals, Chinook salmon populations show no signs of recovery, and marine water quality continues to decline. The 2021 report identifies specific actions needed from governments, non-profits, businesses, tribes, and individuals to make a difference. You can download a copy of the 2021 State of the Sound Report from Puget Sound Partnership. |
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Are Your Gifts Naughty or Nice? Holiday Recycle Tips When decorating, wrapping presents, or sending cards this year, give extra thought to your choices. Whenever available, opt for natural fibers (non-glossy cards and wrapping papers, hemp, raffia ribbons, etc) which are beautiful, compostable and naturally biodegradable. Fabrics create beautiful wraps with natural, reusable bows.
Check out this one-page guide on Holiday Choices / Recycling Tips from EcoEnclose, the sustainable packaging supplier used by the SR³ gift shop. |
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Triple the Holiday Cheer with Gifts from SR³ |
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Give your friends items from the SR³ gift store, and you’ll triple the holiday cheer! Not only will you 1) win the hearts of your friends/family, but you will also 2) support second chances for sick and injured marine mammals, and 3) spread awareness of issues affecting marine mammals. That’s a win for everyone! Order from the SR³ Gift Store by TODAY, Friday, December 17, for delivery by Christmas!
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Help Santa with Gifts for SR³ Seals! |
Remember that you can donate to marine wildlife at no extra cost to you through AmazonSmile! Just go to Smile.Amazon.com and pick SR³, Sealife Response, Rehabilitation and Research as your favorite charity. |
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NOAA Permit #18786 / Photo by: Kersti Muul |
| Even better: Check out the SR³ Wish List for gifts as inexpensive as $7.97 that will really make a difference to patients at the SR³ Rescue Center.
Hint: Our seal patients whispered to Santa that they would really appreciate a new transport kennel for those bumpy rides in the SR³ marine wildlife ambulance. Please visit the SR³ Holiday Wish List to see all the gift requests. |
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