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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-si --0016e645b82424c39904679753fe Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable It's common to find dead seals on the beach at Pond Cove, Brier Island. There are large colonies of both Harbor and Gray Seals close by. There is n= o ice on the ocean there in winter. The ones I saw last weekend weren't Harp Seals - they were presumably Gray or Harbor. On several occasions over the years I have heard shots in the fog in the area, but I have no idea whethe= r that is responsible for the seal carcasses, or a natural phenomenon. Anyway= , they help keep the Turkey Vultures around. Richard On Wed, Apr 15, 2009 at 9:29 AM, Noel Taussig <birdsareback@ecologyaction.c= a > wrote: > How many seals, more then one with the same injury, beheaded, indicates = a > deliberate cutting, no doubt by humans. It is not uncommon for seals to w= ash > up shot. Perhaps the beheading was to get rid of the bullet holes, so as = to > leave no evidence. My vote=85 the ice may decapitate a seal here or there= , but > hundreds along the shores of Sidney harbor every year, the seals are bein= g > killed by humans. > > > > -----Original Message----- > *From:* naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca [mailto: > naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] *On Behalf Of *David Webster > *Sent:* April 14, 2009 9:13 PM > *To:* naturens@chebucto.ns.ca > *Subject:* Re: [NatureNS] Dead Seal > > > > Hi All, Apr 14, 2009 > > If most of these dead seals are beheaded, and I understand this to be > the case, then one can confidently conclude that the mortality is from > natural or accidental causes; i.e. ice or movement of a ship in ice as > opposed to the swing of some man held cutting tool. > > > > Seals in water will either be submerged or with the head just above t= he > surface. And when thinning ice is breaking up in a high wind one can expe= ct > collisions between pans. Seals must breath at intervals so they must take > their chances, pop up between pans and if their timing is wrong; kachunk. > > > > On the other hand, the orientation of seals on ice will be much less > regular (probably about 1/6 would be rotated such that a suitably > positioned killer could lop off a head, assuming this could be done witho= ut > a chopping block below it) and their lateral position relative to the kil= ler > would also not be regular (probably about 1/6 of those that had some body > part within reach of a cutting tool and with suitable rotation would be > positioned laterally such that the neck could be severed). > > > > So roughly 35 out of 36 seals would be oriented and positioned such > that some body part other than the neck would be more readily struck. And > consequently one would expect nearly all of the fatal wounds to be to the > large, exposed and vulnerable areas; rib cage or body spine because, when > the seal was within striking distance, one or both of these large targets > would almost always be oriented such that it could be hit. > > > > These considerations are based on extensive inexperience with seals a= nd > sea ice. > > > > Yt, Dave Webster, Kentville > > ----- Original Message ----- > > *From:* jen cooper <iffercooper@hotmail.com> > > *To:* naturens@chebucto.ns.ca > > *Sent:* Tuesday, April 14, 2009 3:41 PM > > *Subject:* RE: [NatureNS] Dead Seal > > > > i have no offering of a method for the 'headlessness issue' but this is t= he > 4th year (that i've been observing) in a row that headless seals wash up = all > around municipal cape breton. there seems to be 2 seal hunts, the one wer= e > all used to hearing about on the news each year and this second one where > the pelts are not utilized and all seems to be for naught. literally > hundreds of headless seals wash up on the shores of sydney harbour every > year and it never seems to be investigated. i assume its fishermen but i'= d > love to know for sure. > > jen cooper > > > From: randy.lauff@gmail.com > > Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:02:23 -0300 > > Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Dead Seal > > To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca > > > > And for those of you with stronger stomachs... > > > > I'm very curious about this headlessness issue. Is there any evidence > > to the method of beheading? Cut, chopped, crushed and torn asunder? > > > > Randy > > > > 2009/4/13 Richard Stern <sternrichard@gmail.com>: > > > There were at least 4 dead seals on Pond Cove Beach this w/e. All wer= e > > > young, and headless - similar to those described on the CBC news at > > > Lawrencetown Beach this evening. They were providing a treat for the > local > > > Turkey Vultures. I have no idea what killed them., but perhaps it's a > > > province-wide phenomenon. > > > > > > Richard > > > > > > On Mon, Apr 13, 2009 at 6:03 PM, Terri Crane < > terri.crane@ns.sympatico.ca> > > > wrote: > > >> > > >> This year the outer edge of the Ice flow was pushed out of the Gulf > and > > >> off Cape Breton earlier than usual and large volumes passed just off > our > > >> shores heading southwest. > > >> > > >> I'd say that the early and large out flows of ice are responsible > for this > > >> years further south than usual deposits of seal carcus'. I'm sure mo= st > of > > >> us along the north eastern shore don't mind sharing this early-mid > spring > > >> abundance. > > >> > > >> In the next short while if you have a carcus on you beach don't let = it > get > > >> above the tide line. You'll be sure to have you're own smelly, oil > > >> producing, colony of decomposers that will last into mid summer (lot= s > of > > >> experence). Even though the water is cold it seem to excelerate the > decomp > > >> of the seals while keeping the smell in check (relatively speaking). > An off > > >> shore wind on a falling tide can make it go away. > > >> > > >> Tom K. > > >> Canso > > > > > > Randy > > _________________________________ > > RF Lauff > > Way in the boonies of > > Antigonish County, NS. > ------------------------------ > > Tell the whole story with photos, right from your Messenger window. Learn > how! <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=3D9650732> > ------------------------------ > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 8.0.238 / Virus Database: 270.11.54/2056 - Release Date: 04/13/0= 9 > 05:51:00 > > --=20 ################## Richard Stern, 317 Middle Dyke Rd. Port Williams, NS, Canada B0P 1T0 sternrichard@gmail.com ################### --0016e645b82424c39904679753fe Content-Type: text/html; charset=windows-1252 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable It's common to find dead seals on the beach at Pond Cove, Brier Island.= There are large colonies of both Harbor and Gray Seals close by. There is = no ice on the ocean there in winter. The ones I saw last weekend weren'= t Harp Seals - they were presumably Gray or Harbor. On several occasions ov= er the years I have heard shots in the fog in=A0 the area, but I have no id= ea whether that is responsible for the seal carcasses, or a natural phenome= non. Anyway, they help keep the Turkey Vultures around.<br> <br>Richard<br><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Wed, Apr 15, 2009 at 9:29 = AM, Noel Taussig <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mailto:birdsareback@ecolo= gyaction.ca">birdsareback@ecologyaction.ca</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockq= uote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 20= 4); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"> <div bgcolor=3D"white" link=3D"blue" vlink=3D"blue" lang=3D"EN-US"> <div> <p><font color=3D"navy" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size:= 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">How many seals, more then one with= the same injury, beheaded, indicates a deliberate cutting, no doubt by humans. = It is not uncommon for seals to wash up shot. Perhaps the beheading was to get= rid of the bullet holes, so as to leave no evidence. My vote=85 the ice may decapitate a seal here or there, but hundreds along the shores of </span></= font><font color=3D"navy" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-siz= e: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Sidney</span></font><font color= =3D"navy" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-fa= mily: Arial; color: navy;"> harbor every year, the seals are being killed by humans.</span></font></p> <p><font color=3D"navy" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size:= 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">=A0</span></font></p> <p style=3D"margin-left: 36pt;"><font face=3D"Tahoma" size=3D"2"><span styl= e=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;"><div class=3D"im">-----Original= Message-----<br> <b><span style=3D"font-weight: bold;">From:</span></b> <a href=3D"mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca" target=3D"_blank">naturens= -owner@chebucto.ns.ca</a> [mailto:<a href=3D"mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto= .ns.ca" target=3D"_blank">naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca</a>] <b><span style= =3D"font-weight: bold;">On Behalf Of </span></b>David Webster<br> <b><span style=3D"font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> April 14, 2009 9:13 = PM<br> <b><span style=3D"font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> <a href=3D"mailto:natu= rens@chebucto.ns.ca" target=3D"_blank">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</a><br> </div><div><div></div><div class=3D"h5"><b><span style=3D"font-weight: bold= ;">Subject:</span></b> Re: [NatureNS] Dead Seal</div></div></span></font></= p><div><div></div><div class=3D"h5"> <p style=3D"margin-left: 36pt;"><font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"3"><= span style=3D"font-size: 12pt;">=A0</span></font></p> <div> <p style=3D"margin-left: 36pt;"><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style= =3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Hi All,=A0=A0=A0 =A0=A0=A0 =A0=A0=A0 Apr 14, 2009</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p style=3D"margin-left: 36pt;"><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style= =3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">=A0=A0=A0 If most of these dead seals are beheaded, and I understand this to be the case, then one can confidently conclude that the mortality is from natural or accidental=A0causes; i.e. ice or movement of a ship in ice=A0as opposed to the swing of some man held cutting tool.</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p style=3D"margin-left: 36pt;"><font face=3D"Verdana" size=3D"2"><span sty= le=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">=A0</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p style=3D"margin-left: 36pt;"><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style= =3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">=A0=A0=A0 Seals in water will either be submerged or with the head just above the surface. And when thinning=A0ice is breaking up in a high wind one can expect collisions between pans. Seals must breath at intervals so they must take their chance= s, pop up between pans and if their timing is wrong; kachunk.</span></font></p= > </div> <div> <p style=3D"margin-left: 36pt;"><font face=3D"Verdana" size=3D"2"><span sty= le=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">=A0</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p style=3D"margin-left: 36pt;"><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style= =3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">=A0=A0=A0 On the other hand, the orientation of seals on ice will be much less regular (probably a= bout 1/6 would be rotated such that=A0a suitably positioned=A0killer could lop off a head, assuming this could be done without a chopping block below it) = and their lateral position relative to the killer would also not be regular (probably about 1/6 of those that=A0had some body part=A0within reach of a cutting tool and=A0with=A0suitable rotation would be positioned laterally such that the neck could be severed).</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p style=3D"margin-left: 36pt;"><font face=3D"Verdana" size=3D"2"><span sty= le=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">=A0</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p style=3D"margin-left: 36pt;"><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style= =3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">=A0=A0=A0 So roughly 35 out of 36 seals would be oriented and positioned such that some body part=A0other than the neck would be more readily struck.=A0And consequently=A0one would expect nearly all</span></font><font face=3D"Verda= na" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">=A0</= span></font><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 10pt;= font-family: Arial;">of the fatal wounds to be to the large, exposed and vulnerable areas; rib cage or body s= pine because, when the seal was within striking distance, one or both of these l= arge targets would almost always be oriented such that it could be hit.</span></= font></p> </div> <div> <p style=3D"margin-left: 36pt;"><font face=3D"Verdana" size=3D"2"><span sty= le=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">=A0</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p style=3D"margin-left: 36pt;"><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style= =3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">=A0=A0=A0 These considerations are based on extensive inexperience with seals and sea ice.<= /span></font></p> </div> <div> <p style=3D"margin-left: 36pt;"><font face=3D"Verdana" size=3D"2"><span sty= le=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">=A0</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p style=3D"margin-left: 36pt;"><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style= =3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Yt, Dave Webster, Kentville</span= ></font></p> </div> <blockquote style=3D"border-style: none none none solid; border-color: -moz= -use-text-color -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color black; border-width= : medium medium medium 1.5pt; margin: 5pt 0cm 5pt 3.75pt; padding: 0cm 0cm = 0cm 4pt;"> <div> <p style=3D"margin-left: 36pt;"><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style= =3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">----- Original Message ----- </sp= an></font></p> </div> <div> <p style=3D"background: rgb(228, 228, 228) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; margin= -left: 36pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -m= oz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><b><font face=3D"= Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; font-= weight: bold;">From:</span></font></b><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span= style=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"> <a href=3D"mailto:iffercoo= per@hotmail.com" title=3D"iffercooper@hotmail.com" target=3D"_blank">jen co= oper</a> </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p style=3D"margin-left: 36pt;"><b><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span st= yle=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">To:</span><= /font></b><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 10pt; f= ont-family: Arial;"> <a href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca" title=3D"na= turens@chebucto.ns.ca" target=3D"_blank">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</a> </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p style=3D"margin-left: 36pt;"><b><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span st= yle=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span= ></font></b><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 10pt;= font-family: Arial;"> Tuesday, April 14, 2009 3:41 PM</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p style=3D"margin-left: 36pt;"><b><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span st= yle=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">Subject:</s= pan></font></b><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 10= pt; font-family: Arial;"> RE: [NatureNS] Dead Seal</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p style=3D"margin-left: 36pt;"><font face=3D"Verdana" size=3D"2"><span sty= le=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">=A0</span></font></p> </div> <p style=3D"margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 36pt;"><fo= nt face=3D"Verdana" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family:= Verdana;">i have no offering of a method for the 'headlessness issue&#= 39; but this is the 4th year (that i've been observing) in a row that headless seals= wash up all around municipal cape breton. there seems to be 2 seal hunts, the one w= ere all used to hearing about on the news each year and this second one where t= he pelts are not utilized and all seems to be for naught. literally hundreds o= f headless seals wash up on the shores of sydney harbour every year and it ne= ver seems to be investigated. i assume its fishermen but i'd love to know f= or sure. <br> <br> jen cooper<br> <br> > From: <a href=3D"mailto:randy.lauff@gmail.com" target=3D"_blank">randy= .lauff@gmail.com</a><br> > Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:02:23 -0300<br> > Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Dead Seal<br> > To: <a href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca" target=3D"_blank">natur= ens@chebucto.ns.ca</a><br> > <br> > And for those of you with stronger stomachs...<br> > <br> > I'm very curious about this headlessness issue. Is there any evide= nce<br> > to the method of beheading? Cut, chopped, crushed and torn asunder?<br= > > <br> > Randy<br> > <br> > 2009/4/13 Richard Stern <<a href=3D"mailto:sternrichard@gmail.com" = target=3D"_blank">sternrichard@gmail.com</a>>:<br> > > There were at least 4 dead seals on Pond Cove Beach this w/e. All were<br> > > young, and headless - similar to those described on the CBC news = at<br> > > Lawrencetown Beach this evening. They were providing a treat for = the local<br> > > Turkey Vultures. I have no idea what killed them., but perhaps it= 's a<br> > > province-wide phenomenon.<br> > ><br> > > Richard<br> > ><br> > > On Mon, Apr 13, 2009 at 6:03 PM, Terri Crane <<a href=3D"mailt= o:terri.crane@ns.sympatico.ca" target=3D"_blank">terri.crane@ns.sympatico.c= a</a>><br> > > wrote:<br> > >><br> > >> This year the outer edge of the Ice flow was pushed out of th= e Gulf and<br> > >> off Cape Breton earlier than usual and large volumes passed j= ust off our<br> > >> shores heading southwest.<br> > >><br> > >> I'd say that the early and large out flows of ice are res= ponsible for=A0this<br> > >> years=A0further south than usual deposits of seal carcus'= . I'm sure=A0most of<br> > >> us=A0along the north eastern=A0shore=A0don't mind sharing this early-mid spring<br> > >> abundance.<br> > >><br> > >> In the next short while if you have a carcus on you beach don= 't let it get<br> > >> above the tide line. You'll be sure to have you're ow= n smelly, oil<br> > >> producing, colony of decomposers that will last into mid summ= er (lots of<br> > >> experence). Even though the water is cold it seem to excelera= te the decomp<br> > >> of the seals while keeping the smell in check (relatively speaking). An off<br> > >> shore wind=A0on a falling tide can make it go=A0away.<br> > >><br> > >> Tom K.<br> > >> Canso<br> > <br> > <br> > Randy<br> > _________________________________<br> > RF Lauff<br> > Way in the boonies of<br> > Antigonish County, NS.</span></font></p> <div style=3D"margin-left: 36pt; text-align: center;" align=3D"center"><fon= t face=3D"Verdana" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family: = Verdana;"> <hr align=3D"center" size=3D"2" width=3D"100%"> </span></font></div> <p style=3D"margin-left: 36pt;"><font face=3D"Verdana" size=3D"2"><span sty= le=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Tell the whole story with pho= tos, right from your Messenger window. <a href=3D"http://go.microsoft.com/?linki= d=3D9650732" target=3D"_blank">Learn how!</a> </span></font></p> <div style=3D"margin-left: 36pt; text-align: center;" align=3D"center"><fon= t face=3D"Verdana" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family: = Verdana;"> <hr align=3D"center" size=3D"2" width=3D"100%"> </span></font></div> <p style=3D"margin-left: 36pt;"><font face=3D"Verdana" size=3D"2"><span sty= le=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br> No virus found in this incoming message.<br> Checked by AVG - <a href=3D"http://www.avg.com" target=3D"_blank">www.avg.c= om</a> <br> Version: 8.0.238 / Virus Database: 270.11.54/2056 - Release Date: 04/13/09 05:51:00</span></font></p> </blockquote> </div></div></div> </div> </blockquote></div><br><br clear=3D"all"><br>-- <br><br>##################<= br>Richard Stern, <br>317 Middle Dyke Rd.<br>Port Williams, NS, Canada<br>B= 0P 1T0<br><br><a href=3D"mailto:sternrichard@gmail.com">sternrichard@gmail.= com</a><br> ###################<br> --0016e645b82424c39904679753fe--
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