Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center

Grattoni - heads back to the ocean just in time for a little holiday cheer at sea.

Date:  Sunday, December 23, 2012 (Even if it snows!… fingers crossed for sunshine, though!)
Who?  Grattoni the harbor seal
Grattoni arrived to MARC in September, thanks to the great folks at Marine Mammals of Maine.  He was treated for a severely abscessed right shoulder which had developed into an infection of the bone in his flipper.  Thankfully, after several months of antibiotics and care, he has healed and is ready to return to the wild.
Kennel Door Opens at:  11:00 am (Be there early!)
Blubber Hits the Water at:  ~11:01 am (Blink and you’ll miss it)
Location:  Gilbert Place, on Biddeford Pool, Biddeford, Maine (as you enter Gilbert Place, veer to the left for public parking) Get Directions  Please drive carefully, mind speed limits and be respectful of the neighbors.  Thanks!

What to Bring:

• Cameras
• Good Vibes
• Donations for our “Seas the Day:: December Days of Giving” Fundraiser
• Need a last minute holiday gift?  Bring along some cash – shirts and other merchandise available beachside
  
• All encouraged but not required.

UNE/MARC is a 501 (c) (3) not for profit organization that operates the only Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle rehabilitation program in Maine.  Each year MARC treats nearly 100 animals.  You can adopt a seal by calling 207-221-4228.  For information about UNE/MARC, to adopt an animal or to become a member, please visit us on the web at www.une.edu/marc, or call us at 207-221-4228.

The Halloween Edition!!!!!

This creepy, crawly Halloween blog contains information provided by the James Sulikowski Lab at the University of New England. 

On Thursday October 25th, James Sulikowski and a team of 5 students went out on the Llyr, a UNE research vessel, to our favorite sturgeon grounds, a spot in between the jetties at the mouth of the Saco River. With a suite of 5 nets, we caught a total of 14 Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus). The largest sturgeon we caught was brought back to the lab and is being housed in one of the MARC tanks (the tank Noodle had been swimming in), and can be seen from the windows on the upper floor of the Marine Science Center.

Historically, sturgeon have been fished for both their meat and caviar, however, their populations could not withstand the fishing pressure. They are now protected under the Endangered Species Act where Atlantic sturgeon are classified as threatened in the Gulf of Maine and endangered everywhere else in their range, while shortnose sturgeon are endangered everywhere. Because of this status, the more we can learn about these fish – the better!

Our lab is actively working to better understand these fish by looking at size, diet, movement and physiology of the sturgeon we catch in the Saco River. Before they are released, all of our sturgeon are given a full “work up” which includes an internal tag (PIT) an external tag (Tbar), 5 different size measurements (see below), a DNA sample and a blood sample. These 2 tags will help us (or other researchers) to identify the sturgeon if it is ever caught again. Some sturgeon are additionally given an acoustic tag. In the river, we have a series of acoustic receivers which can detect every time a sturgeon with an acoustic tag swims by. The receiver will record the exact time that this sturgeon was at that location and we can later collect this data. What’s especially awesome about acoustic tags is that other researchers have receivers in other locations and they can alert us if they ever spot our sturgeon.

In an effort to transfer the sturgeon you now see in the MARC tank to the lab as quickly as possible—and to minimize stress—we haven’t measured it yet and therefore don’t know its exact size; but if I were to guess, I’d say it’s about 6 feet long. Normally, we will set these fish free as soon as we have collected all data points and they have recovered from being handled. However, this sturgeon was brought back to the lab so that we can attach a satellite tag to it. This tag will record pressure and temperature data and store it until the tag pops off, floats to the surface and transmits this data via satellite to us. This sturgeon will be going back in the river soon so make sure to stop by the Marine Science Center and check it out while you can!

Special thanks to Laura Whitefleet-Smith of the Sulikowski Lab for sharing some details about this giant fish.

Meatball will be released Saturday, alongside his 3 good friends. We hope to see you at the beach!

Date:  Saturday, September 15, 2012 (Rain or  Shine… fingers crossed for sunshine, though!)
Who?  Meatball, Marziani, Tripoline and Pici (*subject to change)
Kennel Door Opens at:  2:00 pm (Be there early!)
Blubber Hits the Water at:  ~2:01 pm (Blink and you’ll miss it)
Location:  Gilbert Place, on Biddeford Pool, Biddeford, Maine (as you enter Gilbert Place, veer to the left for public parking)Get Directions  Please drive carefully, mind speed limits and be respectful of the neighbors.  Thanks!

What to Bring:

• Cameras
• Good Vibes
• Registration Money for Frolic for Flippers 5K
• All encouraged but not required.

Pre-register for the Frolic for Flippers 5K – at the release or online.

UNE/MARC is a 501 (c) (3) not for profit organization that operates the only Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle rehabilitation program in Maine.  Each year MARC treats nearly 100 animals.  You can adopt a seal by calling 207-221-4228.  For information about UNE/MARC, to adopt an animal or to become a member, please visit us on the web at www.une.edu/marc, or call us at 207-221-4228.

Ever wonder how we get the baby seals to learn to hunt for fish?  One of the first steps involves making their food look fun and interesting – and what looks more fun and interesting than actual live fish!?!?!

During the first few weeks at MARC, our volunteer force goes on fun fishing trips down the road from the facility to catch small, live fish for the pups.  These small fish, mummichogs (or mummies for short) are tiny minnows that are caught in the shallow waters in the spring and summer.

"Mummichugging" - setting the seine net

With a few people, a big net, some shallow water and a few buckets, eventually a few dozen fish can be caught.

And maybe even a crab or two

The young pups quickly become interested in chasing and squishing the live fish…. eventually they even begin to swallow them.

Seal Pups start to follow the Mummichogs

Each pup is different.  Some take to eating fish very quickly and others take their time developing their skills.  But at some point, they will all make the change to eating the large, fatty herring that helps them build a nice thick layer of blubber.

Wiggle enjoying a nice snack

Sorprese (surprise!):  This blog has two purposes…. to congratulate our wonderful seniors AND to share the release of our beastly terror, “Sorprese” the mean, strong grey seal.

Sorprese arrived last month from Seapoint Beach in Kittery – dehydrated, underweight and dealing with some respiratory and gastrointestinal issues.  Often our animals are intense cases, but Sorprese was comparatively easy… one of those seals that just needs a quick medical boost before heading back out to sea.   Her claim to fame in rehab?  Being strong enough to “buck” two experienced staff members off her back at the same time.  This seal had fight and it was refreshing to see.  She is one of those animals that we feel confident will thrive back in the ocean.

Today, Sorprese was released at a quiet get-together at Biddeford Pool, Maine.  She is being featured in an upcoming article about MARC in Downeast Magazine (we’ll announce when it’s out), so photographer Chris Becker joined us to capture the moment.  This week is fairly quiet at MARC, as all of our Senior student volunteers prepare to graduate (tomorrow!) and head out into the Real World.

Like many of our students, Sorprese was a bit excited, yet hesitant to say goodbye.  The big ocean can be a scary place and the future remains unknown.  Sorprese tried to stay with us, but she soon turned, faced the open water, and made her way swiftly down the beach.

Like Sorprese, we hope that our graduates get out there, take chances and explore.  Congratulations Seniors and a special congrats to Sorprese.

***Seniors – keep us up to date on your whereabouts and life in the future.  Sorprese… we hope we don’t see you again