Where do young Harbor Seals go when we release them back into the wild? Do they stay in the area for days or weeks and join other seals on the local haul-outs, or do they head off for parts unknown? At the moment we don’t know, but have plans to find out.
In a project funded by a federal grant, Wolf Hollow is collaborating with the SeaDoc Society to place satellite tags on 10 young seals when we release them this fall. SeaDoc and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife have also placed tags on 10 age-matched wild pups so that the movements of the two groups can be compared. The glue-on tags will stay on the seals until they molt, so we hope to be able to track their movements for over a year post-release.
To take a look at maps showing the seals’ movements visit the SeaDoc Society’s web site at http://www.seadocsociety.org/harbor-seal-rehabilitation-study.
The Seals
The seals we are tracking were all brought to Wolf Hollow as pups that were orphaned or separated from their mother. Most were thin and dehydrated and many had wounds or infections. Their care involved treatment of injuries or infections, a nutritious diet so they could grow and recover, and pools where they could swim and gain strength in preparation for release.
HARBOR SEALS 2010 (Naming theme for 2010 is Washington Native Wild Plants)
SNOWBERRY
History – Alone on beach for three days near Bartwood Lodge on Orcas. Brought to Wolf Hollow by San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network 7/5.
Condition – Age ~ 5 days, Sex-Male, Weight – 21.8 pounds. Slightly dehydrated and thin. No wounds or injuries.
Released – 9/21 Weight – 69.9 pounds
DOGWOOD
History – Found under beachfront restaurant in Birch Bay. Mother found dead on busy public beach nearby. Brought to Wolf Hollow by Whatcom County Marine Mammal Stranding Network 7/15.
Condition – Age ~3 days, Sex – Male, Wt. – 23.9 pounds. Slightly dehydrated. Umbilicus infected.
Released - 9/21 Weight 75.7 – pounds
MONKEYFLOWER
History -Observed for two days on beach at Semiahmoo Marina, alone and trying to suckle on dock and boats. Brought to wolf Hollow by Whatcom County Marine Mammal Stranding Network 7/8.
Condition – Age ~ 6 days, Sex-Female, Weight – 14.3 pounds. Emaciated, overheated, dehydrated. Puncture wounds on head and flipper. Umbilical infection. Eye injury.
Released – 9/28 Weight – 67.5 pounds
PHLOX
History – Found on South Beach, San Juan Island, near busy parking area. National Park staff requested animal be picked up by San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network. Brought to Wolf Hollow 7/9.
Condition – Age ~7 days, Sex – Male, Wt. – 15.5 pounds. Emaciated, dehydrated, deep, fresh wounds on fore and hind flippers. Umbilicus infected.
Released – 9/28 Weight – 69.5 pounds
LUINA
History – Seen alone on beach at Bartwood Lodge, Orcas Island on 7/9. Showed up again 7/11. Brought to Wolf Hollow by San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network 7/12.
Condition – Age – ~8 days, Sex- female, Weight – 17.4 pounds. Very thin, slightly dehydrated, umbilicus gone but not healed over. No apparent wounds or injuries.
Released – 9/28 Weight – 73.2 pounds
IRIS
History –Seen alone for two days at North Beach, Orcas. Hauling out on swim step of boat. Brought to Wolf Hollow by San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network 7/16.
Condition – Age ~ 5 days, Sex-Female, Weight – 17 pounds. Very thin, slightly dehydrated. No apparent wounds or injuries.
Released – 10/2 Weight – 66.4 pounds
HONEYSUCKLE
History – Had been on man’s boat off Lummi Island for three days. Was put back into water, then would climb in again at night. Whatcom Marine Mammal Stranding Network observed then brought to Wolf Hollow 7/23.
Condition – Age ~6 days, Sex – Female, Wt. – 16.6 pounds. Thin, dehydrated, umbilicus still attached but torn and bleeding.
Released – 10/2 Weight – 66.2 pounds
NOOTKA
History – Found on Hannah Heights Community Beach, San Juan Island. Brought to Wolf Hollow by San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network 7/25.
Condition – Age – ~2 days, Sex- female, Weight – 19.6 pounds. Thin and dehydrated, overheated, umbilicus fresh, teeth beginning to erupt. Fresh punctures and lacerations on flippers.
Released – 10/2 Weight – 72.3 pounds
OCEAN SPRAY
History –Seen alone on shore of Skagit Island, picked up by member of the public and taken to Anacortes. Fish and Wildlife officer picked up and sent to Wolf Hollow on 7/25.
Condition – Age ~ 8 days, Sex-Female, Weight – 14.3 pounds. Emaciated and dehydrated. Blood on face. Umbilicus badly infected.
Released – 10/19 Weight – 50.4 pounds
VETCH
History – seen alone on South Beach, San Juan Island. National Park staff requested pick up. Brought to Wolf Hollow by San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network 7/29.
Condition – Age ~ 7days, sex- Male, weight – 14.3 pounds. Emaciated, very dehydrated, infected puncture wounds on flippers.
Released – 10/19 Weight – 60.3 pounds
