Virginia Beach is way more than just your average beach town. With the world's longest pleasure beach, an award-winning boardwalk, a cosmopolitan downtown, more than 35 miles of ocean and bay beaches and the most visited nature park in the state, this is an exciting place to visit.
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| What should you do if you see a seal on the beach in Virginia? |
| Saturday, 18 April 2009 00:00 |
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Compliments of The Virginia Aquarium The mission of the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center is to increase the public's knowledge and appreciation of Virginia's marine environment and inspire commitment to preserve its existence.
A seal on the beach or land should appear curved, like a banana.
A seal on land without this natural curve may be injured or need medical care.
Each winter, the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Team handles dozens of calls about seals on the beaches, docks and piers of the Virginia coast. Sightings of seals have increased dramatically in the last ten years and many of the seals we see appear to be healthy and do not need our intervention, but they do need to be left alone! Wild, healthy seals regularly rest on land. We call this behavior "hauling out". When seals are hauled out, they need rest and should not be disturbed. Many of the seals that come to Virginia are young animals that are still learning to be independent. They may not be as good at staying out of trouble as older animals. This may result in cuts and bruises that look bad, but in actuality, are no worse than the cuts and bruises a person may get. Sometimes, seals are in need of assistance. Sick and injured animals are candidates for recovery, rehabilitation and eventual release. The Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Team has a permit and is trained to handle and treat seals and functions as part of the National Marine Mammal Stranding Network operated by NOAA Fisheries. If we cannot determine whether a seal is in need of help, we often monitor it for 24 to 48 hours to assess its condition. In these cases you may see a sign or a Team member observing or photographing an animal. If a seal is obviously compromised, and it is unlikely to survive on its own, we will intervene and attempt rehabilitation. We try not to intervene until we are certain an animal needs help. If a seal is constantly disturbed and must continue going back into the water, it won't get the rest it needs to stay healthy. Also, SEALS ARE WILD ANIMALS! No matter how cute and docile they may look, they still have very sharp teeth and will bite if feeling threatened. If you see a seal, please, immediately call the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Team at 757-437-6159. We will ask you a series of questions to help us determine whether the seal is in need of help or if it should be left alone to rest undisturbed. Please follow the guidelines below when you encounter a seal on land:
717 General Booth Blvd. Virginia Beach, VA. 23451 (757) 385-FISH (3474) Quote this article on your siteTo create link towards this article on your website, copy and paste the text below in your page. Preview :  Powered by QuoteThis © 2008 |
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