Category: Wildlife Protection

Marine Mammal & Sea Turtle Week (Part 4 of a 5-part Series)

Posted on by mikedavenport

With Memorial Day Weekend upon us, summer is unofficially here for New Jerseyans. That means plenty of tourists enjoying shore, sand, surf, and sun – but it also means other types of annual summer visitors to our coast: bottlenose dolphins, sea turtles, and whales. However, what may be inspiring sightings from a healthy distance can become tragic encounters when marine animals become stranded or entangled in nets.

This story marks the fourth of five blog stories spotlighting New Jersey’s marine mammals and sea turtles – and educating people how to help animals in need, rather than make a bad situation worse.

Part 1, on Monday, revealed the bottlenose dolphin die-off striking the Eastern Seaboard. Part 2, on Tuesday, featured a Question-and-Answer on the dolphin mortality event with NOAA’s MendyGarron. Part 3, yesterday looked at how people can safely help stranded marine mammals without making the mistake of being a “hero”. And Part 5, tomorrow, will reveal the importance of reporting sightings – both for live or dead marine mammals.

MARINE MAMMAL & SEA TURTLE WEEK: Sea turtles navigate a dangerous path, from entanglements to cold-stunning

By Sara DeAngelo, Conservation Intern

Over 100 first responders along the coast of New Jersey attended Conserve Wildlife Foundation’s marine mammal stranding workshops this past month. Speakers and interactive discussions educated the first responders on how to handle a marine mammal or sea turtle stranding.CWFseaTurtle_2014edit

The term “stranding” is used for sea turtles and marine mammals that are found along the beach dead or alive. Their death or injury may be resulting from a predator, parasites, pollution, entanglement, etc. In most stranding cases, the cause of the animal stranding itself is unknown. Determining the cause of the animal stranding will help us understand what is going on in the ocean that may be harmful to certain populations.

Sea turtles, however, face a unique set of challenges. We have four species of sea turtles that may be found in New Jersey waters during the summer. Loggerheads are the most common, while green sea turtles and Atlantic leatherbacks – massive creatures weighing as much as a small car – are less frequently seen but not uncommon. Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles are the rarest visitors.

Most of these sea turtles come to New Jersey during the summer months and enjoy the warmer waters. Yet when our seasons change and the waters cool, some sea turtles may lag behind rather than returning south for warmer waters. These turtles can face “cold stunning”.

In colder waters, sea turtles do not have the capability of warming their own bodies. If a turtle is cold stunned, it looks as if it is dead because its heart rate decreases, it becomes lethargic, circulation decreases, and it may be in shock or have pneumonia.

This condition can even result in a common mistake of a passerby or first responder believing a turtle is dead, when it is actually just “cold-stunned”. Unless the sea turtle clearly looks like it has been dead for a while, it is best to report the turtle to a marine mammal and sea turtle stranding hotline.

A green sea turtle. Photo by Cordell Brown.
A green sea turtle. Photo by Cordell Brown.

Sea turtles can also get entangled in fishing nets. At the Conserve Wildlife Foundation workshops this month, first responders were informed to, upon sighting of an entangled or stranded animal, immediately call the Marine Mammal Stranding Center located in Brigantine, NJ, by calling 1-609-266-0538. They could also contact NOAA’s Northeast Region Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding and Entanglement Hotline by calling 1-866-755-6622.

Boaters who encounter an entangled sea turtle should try to remain near the turtle until help arrives if possible. On shifting seas, it could be hard for the expert responding to the call to locate the animal without the initial person spotting it standing by to direct them there.

One warning was made very clear in the workshop: boaters should never get into the water with a sea turtle or stranded marine mammal. It is extremely dangerous for both the responder and for the animal.

Should the sea turtle be on the beach itself, other tips are helpful for the first responders. While waiting for the trained rescue staff, the first responders were urged to secure the scene, try to keep people at least 100 feet away, and not to touch the animal. Keeping curious beachgoers distant from the animal will minimize stressing out the animal even more. The responders were told that calling the local police department may help enforce the directions to keep back from the animal.

A Kemp's ridley turtle. Photo courtesy of Jenkinson's Aquarium.
A Kemp’s ridley turtle. Photo courtesy of Jenkinson’s Aquarium.

ADDITIONAL LINKS

 

Marine Mammal & Sea Turtle Week (Part 3 of a 5-part Series)

Posted on by mikedavenport

With Memorial Day Weekend upon us, summer is unofficially here for New Jerseyans. That means plenty of tourists enjoying shore, sand, surf, and sun – but it also means other types of annual summer visitors to our coast: bottlenose dolphins, sea turtles, and whales. However, what may be inspiring sightings from a healthy distance can become tragic encounters when marine animals become stranded or entangled in nets.

This story marks the third of five blog stories spotlighting New Jersey’s marine mammals and sea turtles – and educating people how to help animals in need, rather than make a bad situation worse.

Part 1, on Monday, revealed the bottlenose dolphin die-off striking the Eastern Seaboard. Part 2, yesterday, featured a Question-and-Answer on the dolphin mortality event with NOAA’s Mendy Garron. Part 4, tomorrow, will investigate the fascinating condition of cold-stunned sea turtles. And Part 5, on Friday, will reveal the importance of reporting sightings – both for live or dead marine mammals.

MARINE MAMMAL & SEA TURTLE WEEK: Encounter a stranded marine mammal? Here’s how to help (Hint: Don’t try to be a hero!)

By Jennifer Dexter, Conservation Intern

Last year, over 150 marine mammal strandings occurred in New Jersey, ranging from humpback whales to harbor seals.

In order to better prepare first responders and the general public for such incidents, Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ hosted the NJ Marine Mammal Stranding Workshop. For me, the biggest take home message I retained from attending this workshop was a clear one: “Don’t be the hero!”

Keeping people and their pets away from stranded marine mammals is for their safety as well as the animal's. Photo by Mike Davenport.
Keeping people and their pets away from stranded marine mammals is for their safety as well as the animal’s. Photo by Mike Davenport.

Everyone has good intentions when they attempt to ”rescue” a marine mammal stranded on the beach, but often you may be doing more harm than good. Usually, there is a good reason why the animal washed ashore, whether it be injuries or illness at fault. If you simply return the animal to the ocean, it’s likely that they will just become stranded again.

The same goes for animals in danger at sea, such as a turtle entangled in fishing nets. DO NOT go all gung-ho by jumping in the water in attempt to cut the turtle free, as you are putting the animal and yourself in danger.

Close human interaction will put the already stressed animal in defense mode. Sea turtles, such as the leatherback, can weigh more than 1,000 pounds and one thrash of their flipper can leave a human severely injured. In addition, a human can just as easily become entangled in the netting so it’s best to remain on your boat, safe out of harm’s way.

The best and most helpful thing a witness can do in New Jersey is to immediately call the Brigantine Marine Mammal Stranding Center (609-266-0538) and provide the following information: description of the animal, photograph from a distance, location, and description of any injuries.

Most importantly, do not touch, feed, pour water on, or cover the animal. Stand by until a MMSC staff member or local police is dispatched. From that point on, it will be up to the MMSC and the authorities to assess what measures need to be taken based on the animal’s needs. You can walk away knowing you did the right thing – and helped the animal as much as you could.

 

Marine Mammal & Sea Turtle Week (Part 2 of a 5-part Series)

Posted on by mikedavenport

With Memorial Day Weekend upon us, summer is unofficially here for New Jerseyans. That means plenty of tourists enjoying shore, sand, surf, and sun – but it also means other types of annual summer visitors to our coast: bottlenose dolphins, sea turtles, and whales. However, what may be inspiring sightings from a healthy distance can become tragic encounters when marine animals become stranded or entangled in nets.

This story marks the second of five blog stories spotlighting New Jersey’s marine mammals and sea turtles – and educating people how to help animals in need, rather than make a bad situation worse.

Part 1 yesterday revealed the bottlenose dolphin die-off striking the Eastern Seaboard. Part 3, on Wednesday, will look at how people can safely help stranded wildlife. Part 4, on Thursday, will investigate the fascinating condition of cold-stunned sea turtles. And Part 5, on Friday, will reveal the importance of reporting sightings – both for live or dead marine mammals.

MARINE MAMMAL & SEA TURTLE WEEK: Ask the Experts – NOAA’s Mendy Garron sheds light on bottlenose dolphin die-off

By Stephanie Feigin, Program Coordinator

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) declared an unusual Mortality Event (UME) in early July 2013 for bottlenose dolphins along the Atlantic Coast. There have been an elevated number of strandings in New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. These strandings have ranged from a few live animals to mostly dead animals and many very decomposed. These dolphins usually show lesions on their mouth, skin, joints or lungs.

Bottlenose dolphin. Photo by Cordell Brown.
Bottlenose dolphin. Photo by Cordell Brown.

In New Jersey, there have been 135 documented strandings from July 1, 2013 – April 20, 2014. Research attributes this UME to cetacean morbillivirus, a naturally occurring virus in marine mammal populations. It suppresses the immune system and affects the brain and lungs, and causes the death of the animal from other secondary infections. This virus has now affected about 50% of the coastal migratory bottlenose dolphin stock leading to the classification of “Depleted” for this stock under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. I spoke with Mendy Garron, the Marine Mammal Response Coordinator for NOAA Fisheries, about this dolphin die-off.

CWF: What is the unusual mortality event that is occurring for bottlenose dolphins?
MendyGarron, NOAA: In July 2013, NOAA’s Marine Mammal Stranding Network partners documented an increase in bottlenose dolphin strandings occurring in the Mid-Atlantic region (New York through Virginia). Since that time, bottlenose dolphin strandings have remained elevated.

CWF: How widespread is this event? And how is it affecting the New Jersey population of bottlenose dolphins?
MendyGarron, NOAA: The increase in bottlenose dolphin stranding events has extended down through Florida. Coastal migratory bottlenose dolphins migrate south during the winter months and are located off the coast of NC, SC, GA and FL during the winter. In late spring and early summer, the dolphins will migrate back up north and be found in coastal waters of mid-Atlantic states (NY through NC).
Research efforts are underway to understand the impacts the die-off will have on the coastal bottlenose dolphin population, including those that are found in New Jersey waters.

CWF: What are the results, so far, of your investigation into this UME?
MendyGarron, NOAA: This Unusual Mortality Event (UME) has been attributed to an outbreak of cetacean morbillivirus. More information on morbillivirus can be found on the following website:
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/health/mmume/midatldolphins2013.html
Morbillivirus is highly contagious among animals in an infected population. The virus spreads through inhalation of respiratory particles or direct contact between animals. Animals can also be exposed to the virus through other entryways such as the eyes, mouth, stomach, skin wounds, and urogenital tract. Secondary or co-infections caused by fungus, bacteria, parasites and protozoa have also been documented in some animals.

CWF: How can we help protect the New Jersey population?
MendyGarron, NOAA: Bottlenose dolphins are faced with many negative impacts in their daily lives including, but not limited to: fishery interactions, boat strikes, and contamination. There are many things that can be done to help protect these animals. Here is a link to the NOAA Fisheries Service regional website that houses information on responsible wildlife viewing practices for dolphins, as well as guidance for recreational fishermen and boaters: http://www.nero.noaa.gov/Protected/mmp/
An informational video can also be found at: http://www.dontfeedwilddolphins.org/

Marine Mammal & Sea Turtle Week (Part 1 of a 5-part series)

Posted on by mikedavenport

With Memorial Day Weekend upon us, summer is unofficially here for New Jerseyans. That means plenty of tourists enjoying shore, sand, surf, and sun – but it also means other types of annual summer visitors to our coast: bottlenose dolphins, sea turtles, and whales. However, what may be inspiring sightings from a healthy distance can become tragic encounters when marine animals become stranded or entangled in nets.

This story marks the first of five blog stories spotlighting New Jersey’s marine mammals and sea turtles – and educating people how to help animals in need, rather than make a bad situation worse.

Part 2, on Tuesday, will feature a Question-and-Answer on the dolphin mortality event with NOAA’s Mendy Garron. Part 3, on Wednesday, will look at how people can safely help stranded wildlife. Part 4, on Thursday, will investigate the fascinating condition of cold-stunned sea turtles. And Part 5, on Friday, will reveal the importance of reporting sightings – both for live or dead marine mammals.

MARINE MAMMAL & SEA TURTLE WEEK: Dolphin die-off kills over 1,000 bottlenose dolphins along Atlantic coast

By David Wheeler, Executive Director of Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey

At least 136 bottlenose dolphins became stranded in New Jersey over the past year. Most of the strandings were fatal, and many dolphins showed lesions and other infections. Over 1,200 dolphins have stranded along the entire Eastern seaboard – a situation bleak enough that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) declared an Unusual Mortality Event.

Bottlenose dolphin. Photo by Cordell K. Brown.
Bottlenose dolphin. Photo by Cordell Brown.

The cause is Cetacean morbillivirus. About half of coastal migratory bottlenose dolphins are affected, leading to this stock’s federal classification as ‘Depleted’ under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Bottlenose dolphins were already considered species of special concern in New Jersey, and this only further threatens their population.

In stark contrast with the 136 dolphins stranded in New Jersey since last July 1, the average number of strandings in the state for a given year is 10.

The last major morbillivirus mortality event among bottlenose dolphins occurred in 1987-88, which ultimately helped lead the U.S. Congress to establish the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program.

The dolphin virus was among the issues discussed atConserve Wildlife Foundation’s inaugural marine mammal stranding workshops last month at Monmouth University and Richard Stockton College.

Speakers at our recent stranding response workshops led interactive discussions to educate first responders on how to handle marine mammal and sea turtle strandings. Jen Zebrowski from Jenkinson’s Aquarium educated responders on how to identify some 13 species of marine mammals and 5 sea turtles they might encounter on the New Jersey coast. Mendy Garron, Kate Sampson and Scott Doyle from NOAA explained what a responder should do once they encounter the animal, how to make the situation safe, and the legal obligations facing first responders with a stranding.

Now we enter this summer hoping that cetacean morbillivirus will not claim nearly as many dolphins this year. Keep your fingers crossed!

Jen Zebrowski from Jenkinson’s Aquarium providing an overview of NJ's marine mammal & sea turtle species at CWF's recent stranding response workshop at Stockton College. Photo by Stephanie Feigin.
Jen Zebrowski from Jenkinson’s Aquarium providing an overview of NJ’s marine mammal & sea turtle species at CWF’s recent stranding response workshop at Stockton College. Photo by Stephanie Feigin.

Helpful Links:

Bottlenose Dolphin Field Guide

NOAA Unusual Mortality Event page for Bottlenose Dolphin Morbillivirus

NOAA Marine Mammal Stranding page

Marine Mammal Stranding Center, Brigantine, New Jersey

Jenkinson’s Aquarium

Photos from the field

Posted on by larissasmith

Shorebirds and Horseshoe crabs have arrived on the Delaware Bay.

by: Larissa Smith, Wildlife Biologist/ Volunteer Manager

Now is a great time to get out to the Delaware Bay beaches and see the shorebirds. Learn more about the shorebird project and the best spots for viewing  the birds and crabs.

On Monday May 19th CWF volunteer Tom McKelvey took photos of the shorebird project research team banding sanderlings.

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Donations needed for Falcon Project!

Posted on by Ben Wurst
New cart needed to carry remote, motion activated camera to nests

by Ben Wurst, Habitat Program Manager

Each spring we work with NJ Fish & Wildlife Biologists to deploy a remote, motion activated camera at coastal peregrine falcon nests. The camera is set at the entrance to nestboxes or Dog Igloos to capture video of the adults as they enter and exit the nestbox when they are incubating eggs. As the pair exchanges incubation duties they go in and out, past the small camera. Most adults where leg bands (that they were given before fledging): one USGS band (silver or black:NJ, and one auxiliary color band with an alpha/numeric code). The data that’s collected helps biologist to keep track of the population and also allows us to find out the age of adults, their origin, nest site fidelity, and turnover rates.

To carry this wonderful camera to nest sites we use a small cart (made by Wheeleez, Inc.) transport it over the saltmarsh environment. Why is the Wheeleez cart important? Well, the cart has huge tires with low ground pressure. This helps us to leave a small footprint on our coastal saltmarshes. It glides easily over spartina covered marshes and fits perfectly over extension ladders that we use to cross small ditches on our way out to falcons nests that are on old hacking towers. There are around 10 towers where we deploy this camera and the cart is crucial to this project!

The current cart is over 10 years old and is falling apart. It’s wheels fall off and now it’s being held together with cable ties… We could carry it by hand, but there’s a heavy battery inside the Pelican Case that houses the camera system. We also carry a 16 or 20′ ladder to access nests, which are on 30-40′ towers. Carrying both by oneself would be extremely difficult, especially considering we sometimes walk long distances to a nest (and often cross many ditches). We’re asking for your support to help us purchase a new cart. We need to raise $300 within the next 14-21 days.

 

In the News: CWF works with businesses for a healthier Barnegat Bay

Posted on by CWF
Sunset on Barnegat Bay (c) Greg Molyneux
Sunset on Barnegat Bay (c) Greg Molyneux

Conserve Wildlife Foundation’s inaugural Barnegat Bay Business Forum brought together a diverse mix of businesses, government representatives, and conservation advocates to discuss how to strengthen the watershed’s recovery. An article by the Asbury Park Press captures many of the challenges faced by the Barnegat Bay.

Read the article.

In the News: CWF’s Amphibian Crossing Project

Posted on by CWF
A spotted salamander after being rescued after attempting to cross a road. (c) CWF
A spotted salamander after being rescued after attempting to cross a road. (c) CWF

Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey was profiled in a recent article in the The Record about our efforts to protect migrating amphibians.  

 

One of the lesser known signs of spring arrived Monday night on Clinton Road in West Milford: A steady trickle of frogs and salamanders crept through an icy rain in search of love. If not for the teams of volunteers who waited to prod them across the winding road, many would meet a quiet end under the wheels of a passing car. Every year in early spring, champions of the tiny amphibians spend several hours at this spot and dozens like it throughout the Northeast so they can witness — and do their small part to continue — a natural phenomenon that goes largely unnoticed by the greater population.  Read more…

CWF and Partners Work to Save Critical Habitat for Shorebirds

Posted on by CWF
A red knot feeds on horsehsoe crabs on a Delaware Bay beach. © Bill Dalton
A red knot feeds on horsehsoe crabs on a Delaware Bay beach. © Bill Dalton

Check out a recent article from the Press of Atlantic City about CWF and partners work to restore habitat along the Delaware Bayshore.

 

MIDDLE TOWNSHIP — Tons of sand were hauled, dumped, poured and shifted Wednesday along Pierce’s Point Beach, part of a massive effort to avoid what biologists say could be a catastrophe.  Read more.

For greater background on the challenges faced by the State-endangered red knot, check out this recent story by Scientific American

The ambitious campaign of Conserve Wildlife Foundation and American Littoral Society to restore Delaware Bay beaches in the wake of Hurricane Sandy’s destruction was documented in the Greener New Jersey Productions video, “A Race Against Time.” This new film will be screened on Earth Day, April 22nd,  at the historic Levoy Theatre in Millville, New Jersey.  Details can be found here

Salamander Migration in Central New Jersey

Posted on by CWF

By Charlene Smith, Program Coordinator

On the first rainy nights in Spring, Beekman Road in East Brunswick is closed to vehicle traffic to allow migrating amphibians safe passage between their upland habitat and their breeding vernal pool habitat
On the first rainy nights in Spring, Beekman Road in East Brunswick is closed to vehicle traffic to allow migrating amphibians safe passage between their upland habitat and their breeding vernal pool habitat (c) Friends of East Brunswick Environmental Commission

The temperatures might not be what they should be for this time of year but don’t tell that to the salamanders and frogs that are beginning their migrations to their natal vernal pools to reproduce. I went out on a cold, dark, rainy evening to the town of East Brunswick to be a part of this magical experience.

Every year around mid to late March into early April, these little creatures get ready to begin their annual journey to their breeding pools. Usually the temperatures need to be above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and on this night activity was a little slow going until the rains came. Vernal pools are an important part of salamander and frog reproduction as they provide the perfect hatchery to lay eggs in shallow water undisturbed by predatory fish. David Moskowitz leads the effort to safely monitor the amphibian migrations with Friends of East Brunswick Environmental Commission, a not-for-profit which provides many earth friendly programs throughout the year. The study area, Beekman Road, is a long winding country road surrounded by woods that runs between the amphibians’ upland habitat and their breeding grounds. The road is closed, thanks to the work of the East Brunswick Environmental Commission, on nights when the migration might occur, allowing the animals to cross the road safely and preventing roadkills. David explained that most of East Brunswick used to be covered by vernal pools, but since development has occurred, the land around Beekman Road is one of the last wildlife refuges in the area so it warrants protection.

A spotted salamander crosses the road to travel to vernal pools for breeding. (c) Sean Grace
A spotted salamander crosses the road to travel to vernal pools for breeding. (c) Sean Grace

All the conditions have to be right for these amphibian migrations, and it seems that tonight is going to a “big night” as families with flashlights in hand gather on Beekman Road by the bunches. David’s enthusiasm is contagious, as he runs around the woods like a little kid, turning over logs to look for spotted salamanders, explaining to onlookers about their biology, diet, and breeding. He leads us on a trail marked with pink flags to the vernal pool to listen to spring peepers calling in the night. At this vernal pool, you will also find Northern gray treefrogs, wood frogs, chorus frogs, and other frog, toad, and salamander species. As the rain begins to get heavier, I begin to notice more spotted

salamanders crossing the road and I save one from being crushed. This leads me to think about CWF’s Amphibian Crossing Project led by Mackenzie Hall, Private Lands Biologist, and I know she must be out in the Northwestern part of the state, doing exactly the same thing, helping these small, yet incredibly important animals, survive in our ever more developed world.