Volunteers Sought For Marine Mammal Training Program

BRIDGEPORT — Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, in conjunction with Mystic Aquarium, will hold a training session for new volunteers interested in helping with the state’s marine mammal stranding program. The two-hour session will take place on Saturday, February 10, beginning at 10 am, at the zoo, 1875 Noble Avenue.

The training program is free and open to adults 18 or older. Volunteers will learn how to respond to calls from the public to determine if a marine mammal, such as a seal or sea turtle, is in need of assistance and to provide education during the call. Experience working with marine animals is not required. Registration is requested by contacting Heather Medic, stranding coordinator for the marine mammal and sea turtle stranding program, at 860-572-5955, extension 107, or HMedic@MysticAquarium.org.

Residents are reminded that all marine mammals are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. The Endangered Species Act of 1973 further protects sea turtles and whales that are endangered. It is illegal to touch, feed, disturb, harass, hunt, capture, or kill marine mammals and sea turtles.

Every year from September through June, seals return to Long Island Sound. In recent years, the population of seals has grown, and more northern species are traveling further south. Seals, unlike other marine mammals, need to come up on land to rest. They can stay on land for days without eating or getting wet, but they are hardly ever given the chance due to public interest and interference.

Since the mid-1990s two species of ice seals — harp and hooded seals — visit this region’s waters in the winter months. These two species are called “ice seals” because they are from Canada and even further north toward Greenland, where they spend most of their lives on ice floes. Harp and hooded seals can be seen in New England from mid January to early May. Ice seals, including harp seals in particular, are almost always sighted alone in this region and can be found on docks, floating ice, lawns, beaches, and even up rivers.

Harp and hooded seals are social in their northern territory, but they are solitary when hauled out. Ice seals typically are not afraid of people and will not usually retreat to the water when approached. Ice seals can be aggressive. Open-mouth displays and vocalizations are signs that humans are too close, and they may bite if they feel threatened.

As the population of ice seals increases, more seals are being observed in this region. The population of harp seals in Canada is more than eight million and growing. Young seals that will not be mating tend to spread out to find new territory when hunting for fish. The harp seal can be seen as far south as Virginia each winter, and last year there were more harp seals seen in Connecticut than in Rhode Island.

Each year the number of sighting calls (seals that do not come in for rehabilitation) increase from the year before. Just because there is a seal on land this does not mean that the animal will need to come in for rehabilitation.

To provide a quick response to callers’ concerns about marine mammals and sea turtles, people are encouraged to call Mystic Aquarium. Mystic will determine if the animal is in need of medical attention, needs to be moved from a populated area, or just needs time to rest.

Seals especially are very resilient. Most seals that people see are just looking for a place to rest before their next big meal. Ice seal young are on their own when they are only 12 days old, and regional seals no longer need to be with their mothers after five weeks.