Seal pup rescue - Aberdeenshire

21st April

On Thursday 21st of April, Aberdeenshire Co-ordinator Kenneth McLennan received a call regarding a stranded Grey Seal at Balmedie beach. Kenneth contacted Aberdeen Co-ordinator Nick Duthie, Aberdeenshire assistant co-ordinator Andrew Ireland, and also Volunteers Tracey and Andy, all of which agreed to turn out.

On arrival at the scene the team kitted up and headed to the beach where the member of public that reported the seal was waiting with it. Nick carried out a full examination of the pup which was determined to be a female, slightly underweight, dehydrated and very tired. The pup had been lying in the surf for the majority of the day and was first sighted at 1500. Due to the time of examination being around 2300, it was impractical to contact Lawrence at the New Deer surgery to get the seal booked in for the evening so the decision was made that the seal would be re-hydrated and left overnight with someone checking back in the morning. Nick and Andrew re-dehydrated her and she was then moved further up the beach so as she could rest up for the evening.

On Friday morning at 0600, the member of public that had reported the seal contacted Nick to advise that the seal was indeed still on the beach and had not moved from the previous night. Nick arranged to have the seal taken to New Deer and he was assisted by Medic Jane Davies.

Many thanks to the reporting member of the public, Kenneth, Nick, Andrew, Andy, Tracey and Jane for assisting with the rescue and Lawrence for taking the seal in to rehab.

Andrew Ireland
Marine Mammal Medic
Aberdeenshire Assistant Co-ordinator

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BDMLR Medics help out at Diesel Spill - Eastbourne, Sussex.

19th April

BDMLR medics in Sussex were involved in helping to catch 9 swans after an diesel spill at Sovereign Harbour in Eastbourne last week. The spill was reported on Tuesday and BDMLR Medics Steven Marsh, Alec Anscombe, Maz Smith and Dave Clark helped myself and other rescuers from East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service (WRAS).

Rescuers spent three days working with the harbour authority catching swans covered in oil. Luckily most of the oil was confined to the very southern end away from the main harbour and only three swans were originally affected. Unfortunately overnight a substantial amount of oil (in wildlife terms) spread into the main harbour area affecting even more.

The harbour authority were apparently told by DEFRA that they could not use detergents to disperse the oil and that they had to let it evaporate! This did not help the swans.

Luckily due to the hot weather most of the oil evaporated by Friday. Two of the 9 swans were badly affect and after washing needed to go to the National Swan Sanctuary in Surrey for more intensive treatment and to regain their waterproofing.

On instruction from the Swan Sanctuary, rescuers also placed a charcoal and lectade solution in a special feeding tub for the remaining swans on a pontoon called "Swan Island" in the harbour.

Luckily the other swans were washed with warm water to remove the surface oil and then eventually released on a nearby lake away from the pollution.

Trevor Weeks
BDMLR (Sussex) and East Sussex WRAS.

Click pics for larger size

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Dogs attack ill pup on Scottish beach

18th April

A local Inverbervie woman called BDMLR Montrose Medic Rebecca Chambers to say that she had witnessed a seal pup in the surfline of the local beach being harassed by 2 staffordshire bull terriers and that they were barking round it and jumping at its back.

Medic Rebecca Chambers arrived on scene almost instantly.(By this time the dogs were being held at bay by the owner) who had hung around to see what was going to happen to the pup, whilst Rebecca entered the surfline. The pup was trying hard to lift its head clear from the water before all its movements stopped. Rebecca managed to retrieve the pup from the surfline and it was now in what appeared to be a comatose state.

Area Co-ordinator Elaine Roft was notified at 16.30 hrs, who in turn advised Rebecca to take the seal to local vets who had been called to arrange for euthanasia based on Rebeccas phone call. At this point obvious bleeding was seen in the mouth and head areas and as it was Rebeccas priority to get the seal examined as soon as possible and given its current state she was unable to determine if the blood was caused by the dogs attack on it.

At 5pm Sarah Dick (vet) called Elaine to submit her findings. On arrival the pups temperature did not register on the thermometer. Mucous membranes were very pale and there were bleeding lesions on the pups back significant with seal pox. The chest was very noisy and the vet was of the opinion that it may have been suffering from lungworm which could have produced the blood around the head and mouth areas. The female Grey seal pup named "meg" was euthenased intra peritoneal and as the barbiturate was administered it died within seconds, still in a comatose state prior to the point of euthanasia.

The vets professional opinion was that the seal pup had severe underlying illness and that the attack by the 2 dogs were enough to tip the balance with the resulting consequences.

BDMLR Director Alan Knight was updated, as was local SSPCA Inspector Mark Lumgair.

Thanks to Margaret Donald who contacted Rebecca, Robson & Partners vet (Sarah Dick), local SSPCA Inspector Mark Lumgair and to BDMLR Director Alan Knight.

Elaine Roft
British Divers Marine Life Rescue
Montrose Area Co-ordinator (Inverbervie-Easthaven)

Pictures Credit - Sue and Paul Horne BDMLR Montrose - click images to enlarge
seal pup at vets	Sarah Dick (vet) and Medic Rebecca Chambers

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Guillemot uplifted from St Cyrus Sands - Scotland

18th March

After completing a beach clean at Johnshaven, BDMLR Montrose Medics Elaine Roft, Sue Horne, Paul Horne and Slovakian visitor Martin Vaci took a walk along the sands of St Cyrus where they found a guillemot lying in the surfline. The bird was picked up and taken to nearby rocks where for a time it perked up standing on its legs. On return from their walk from the North end of the sands the guillemot was found lying down again. Upon further inspection it was realised that the birds crop was empty indicating that it was suffering from starvation. Local SSPCA Inspector Mark Lumgair was called who agreed to collect the bird that evening or early next morning. The guillemot was placed in a cardboard box complete with a towel in the base and left at Sue and Pauls premises for collection. An attempt was made to provide rehydration fluids but sadly the bird died within the hour of being rescued. Mark Lumgair from the SSPCA was informed. Most guillemots when found have a poor rehab success rate although Mark specified that some, if in reasonable body condition have in the past made a recovery and later released down the coast from Montrose.

Elaine Roft
British Divers Marine Life Rescue
Montrose Area Co-ordinator (Inverbervie-Easthaven)

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Sad to say 'goodbye'

15th April

Dear all I thought I would let you all know that Lucie Kirk (effective immediately) and Gareth Norman (effective 30th April) have resigned from their posts, both for unrelated reasons.

Lucie has been a pivitol link in BDMLR response structure for a number of years. I asked Lucie to take on the role of co ordinating the co ordinators a long time ago, when I was running the BDMLR office from my home. She stepped into the breach little knowing what she was letting herself in for. I knew, however, that she was more than capable of putting up with the Directors of BDMLR (not always easy as we are mad). Lucie was at her peak during the PDV outbreak. Not only was she helping co ordinators around the UK she was spending hours (day and night) rescuing seals and helping them fight for their lives in East Winch. Her efforts during this time were nothing short of spectacular!

Lucie has since married Duane Kirk, another medic and they now have a 6 month old son and a thriving shop in Hunstanton, because of this Lucie feels that she needs to step down. She still intends to play a role in BDMLR (I hope she will do the odd rescue). We thank Lucie for her part in making BDMLR the foremost marine mammal rescue group in the UK. As a small way of thanking her we have made Lucie an honourary life member of BDMLR (just so she cannot escape!) Thanks Lucie. You are a real sweetie!! xxx

Gareth Norman has been a dynamo in the Dundee area. He set up the Dundee seal unit and worked constantly to promote the well being of the wildlife in his area. He arranged courses for his medics and tried to keep them interested in the whole thing. I think it is fair to say nobody has tried harder than Gareth. Often driving miles to help other medics who w ere a little out of their depth etc. Gareth got so involved in wildlife rescue that he worked, for a time for the SSPCA at Middlebank. Here he gained a lot of expertise in seals and was always willing and keen to pass it on to others.

Gareth's life has gone through some major changes recently and now he feels he needs to have a life style change and a rest. Once again Gareth has been awarded a life membership and we hope that he will still play a part in the future.

Please, feel free to add your comments to the topic running on the BDMLR Forum. These two people are really what being a BDMLR medic is all about. They are a credit to themselves, BDMLR and should serve as an example to us all. Gareth you are sweetie but sorry mate, no kisses!! .

Mark Stevens
Director BDMLR

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Beach Clean - Scotland

There will be a Beach Clean organised by Shanwell Wildlife Rescue Trust in Scotland on the 23rd April 05. The Kingsbarns Beach Clean will be held on Saturday 23rd April 05. Kingsbarns Beach, Fife is a breeding/haul out site for Grey and Common Seals. The aim is to collect debris and rubbish from the beach that would prove deadly to new born seal pups and other marine wildlife. If you can give a few hours of you time, please meet on Kingsbarn Beach at 11.00am. Sturdy footwear, at packed lunch and waterproof clothing is advisable. Sorry No Pets and children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

A lot of help and support is needed for this clean up operation.

Gareth Norman - Tayforth Coordinator

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Not an April fool
By Shawn Clements
RSPCA Wildlife Supervisor and Medic

On Tuesday 12th April we had a surprise when a seal was admitted to us at RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Centre. The surprise wasn’t that it was a seal, but a one or two day old white coat grey. Are they getting early or late??? You tell me!

It is a female (named April) with a fresh umbilical. We are told that the warden on Knightstone Island, off the coast of Weston-super-Mare (Somerset) spotted her on a tidal beach. After regular checks, there was no sign of the mother and with the oncoming tide, felt that the seal was at risk. The RSPCA inspectors and animal collection drivers transported the ball of fur to us where to date ‘April’ is doing well.

Although we have extensive experience rearing the usual sick and injured juvenile grey seals, we have little experience caring for such a young seal. As a result, we contacted the staff at National Seal Sanctuary in Gweek, whom provided excellent advice and essential supplies. It was unanimously agreed that until ‘April’ is stronger and in better body condition, she would stay with us at West Hatch and then sent to NSS Gweek to complete her rehabilitation.

Shawn Clements

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White-beaked Dolphin incident - Boggle Hole, nr Scarborough

3rd April

Simon & Bev Drayton Co-ordinators for the Scarborough area received a telephone call from a member of the public, via Humber Coastguard, on Sunday afternoon regarding a dolphin that had been spotted at Boggle Hole nr Scarborough. They were told that a pod of dolphins had been spotted swimming offshore nearby and some how one had become separated from the pod. It was then seen swimming in circles and barrel rolling in the surf. Simon, Bev and some of the local medics rushed to the scene, but unfortunately, the dolphin had just died. On inspection the dolphin was identified as being a White-beaked dolphin, female, 2 metres in length and may have possibly been in calf. She was then taken to the Scarborough Sealife centre and stored until the National History Museum picked her up this morning. A post-mortem will be undertaken and we will keep you updated on their findings.

Sue White - BDMLR HQ

[ including some text from Simon Drayton ]

click images for larger size

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Dead Stranded Common Dolphin on Aberdeen Beach

Monday 4th April 2005

Just returned from a callout to Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis) which stranded dead on Aberdeen Beach. The call was received by the Scottish SPCA at 12:45 from a member of the public and Senior Inspector John Carle called me on his way to the beach. Unfortunately, upon arrival, it was obvious that the animal was dead before it stranded.

The animal was a young female which did not appear to be maternally dependant and was in moderate body condition.

However as you will see from the attached photos it has a striking deformity of the tailstock. One can only speculate that this might be due to a congenital condition or possibly as a result of a collision with a boat. In addition it had numerous tooth rake marks covering its body, and it will be interesting to find out if these were caused by its own species, or whether they were made by Bottlenose dolphins which are regularly seen in the Aberdeen Harbour area and throughout the North East. Indeed the BND's put in an appearance while we were recovering the carcass!

Also it had some sucker marks of cephalopod origin, a squid or octopus, which are known to form part of their diet. It is unusual to encounter this species of dolphin on the east coast of Scotland since they a pelagic animal more commonly found around the south-west coasts of the UK

The cascass has been transported to the Scottish Agricultural College at Craibstone in Aberdeen where it will be stored until Bob Reid Collects it for post-mortem at SAC in Inverness

Apologies for the quality of the photos, since they were taken with a camera phone.

Thanks to John Carle, his two eager trainees, and Lawrence Brain for being on standby to provide veterinary assistance if required

Nick Duthie

Aberdeenshire Strandings Co-ordinator
British Divers Marine Life Rescue

click images for larger size