[NatureNS] Dead Seal

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Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 09:45:39 -0300
From: Richard Stern <sternrichard@gmail.com>
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
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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
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> No virus found in this incoming message.
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9
> 05:51:00
>
>


--=20

##################
Richard Stern,
317 Middle Dyke Rd.
Port Williams, NS, Canada
B0P 1T0

sternrichard@gmail.com
###################

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It&#39;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&#39;=
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">&lt;<a href=3D"mailto:birdsareback@ecolo=
gyaction.ca">birdsareback@ecologyaction.ca</a>&gt;</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 &#39;headlessness issue&#=
39; but this
is the 4th year (that i&#39;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&#39;d love to know f=
or sure.
<br>
<br>
jen cooper<br>
<br>
&gt; From: <a href=3D"mailto:randy.lauff@gmail.com" target=3D"_blank">randy=
.lauff@gmail.com</a><br>
&gt; Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:02:23 -0300<br>
&gt; Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Dead Seal<br>
&gt; To: <a href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca" target=3D"_blank">natur=
ens@chebucto.ns.ca</a><br>
&gt; <br>
&gt; And for those of you with stronger stomachs...<br>
&gt; <br>
&gt; I&#39;m very curious about this headlessness issue. Is there any evide=
nce<br>
&gt; to the method of beheading? Cut, chopped, crushed and torn asunder?<br=
>
&gt; <br>
&gt; Randy<br>
&gt; <br>
&gt; 2009/4/13 Richard Stern &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:sternrichard@gmail.com" =
target=3D"_blank">sternrichard@gmail.com</a>&gt;:<br>
&gt; &gt; There were at least 4 dead seals on Pond Cove Beach this w/e. All
were<br>
&gt; &gt; young, and headless - similar to those described on the CBC news =
at<br>
&gt; &gt; Lawrencetown Beach this evening. They were providing a treat for =
the
local<br>
&gt; &gt; Turkey Vultures. I have no idea what killed them., but perhaps it=
&#39;s a<br>
&gt; &gt; province-wide phenomenon.<br>
&gt; &gt;<br>
&gt; &gt; Richard<br>
&gt; &gt;<br>
&gt; &gt; On Mon, Apr 13, 2009 at 6:03 PM, Terri Crane &lt;<a href=3D"mailt=
o:terri.crane@ns.sympatico.ca" target=3D"_blank">terri.crane@ns.sympatico.c=
a</a>&gt;<br>
&gt; &gt; wrote:<br>
&gt; &gt;&gt;<br>
&gt; &gt;&gt; This year the outer edge of the Ice flow was pushed out of th=
e
Gulf and<br>
&gt; &gt;&gt; off Cape Breton earlier than usual and large volumes passed j=
ust
off our<br>
&gt; &gt;&gt; shores heading southwest.<br>
&gt; &gt;&gt;<br>
&gt; &gt;&gt; I&#39;d say that the early and large out flows of ice are res=
ponsible
for=A0this<br>
&gt; &gt;&gt; years=A0further south than usual deposits of seal carcus&#39;=
. I&#39;m
sure=A0most of<br>
&gt; &gt;&gt; us=A0along the north eastern=A0shore=A0don&#39;t mind
sharing this early-mid spring<br>
&gt; &gt;&gt; abundance.<br>
&gt; &gt;&gt;<br>
&gt; &gt;&gt; In the next short while if you have a carcus on you beach don=
&#39;t
let it get<br>
&gt; &gt;&gt; above the tide line. You&#39;ll be sure to have you&#39;re ow=
n smelly,
oil<br>
&gt; &gt;&gt; producing, colony of decomposers that will last into mid summ=
er
(lots of<br>
&gt; &gt;&gt; experence). Even though the water is cold it seem to excelera=
te
the decomp<br>
&gt; &gt;&gt; of the seals while keeping the smell in check (relatively
speaking). An off<br>
&gt; &gt;&gt; shore wind=A0on a falling tide can make it go=A0away.<br>
&gt; &gt;&gt;<br>
&gt; &gt;&gt; Tom K.<br>
&gt; &gt;&gt; Canso<br>
&gt; <br>
&gt; <br>
&gt; Randy<br>
&gt; _________________________________<br>
&gt; RF Lauff<br>
&gt; Way in the boonies of<br>
&gt; Antigonish County, NS.</span></font></p>

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</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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