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I'm trying this message again.
I sent it off yesterday and have yet to see it.
Tom K
Canso
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Terri Crane=20
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca =20
Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 10:34 PM
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Dead Seal
Hi All
May I offer some food for thought on this subject?
=20
I thought in my own little brain that this all makes sense (to me =
anyway).
=20
I believe the extreme annual movement and pressure of ice caused by the =
late winter storms crushing the seals is the main mechanism of the mass =
seal deaths. With the decrease of ice in the gulf and the increase in =
the size of the seal herds, there would be more seals occupying the =
margins/fringes of the flows which are the most dangerous place to be =
during mid to late winter storms. In the Canso area the arrival of dead =
seals on the beaches seems to be one of the annual rights of spring. =
Most of these seals are beaters (young harp seals) with the odd just =
weaned Grey seal pup (same length, much bigger around, usually still =
have the long "white coat") thrown in for good measure.
=20
Now to address the headlessness of the seals, if you step back and take =
a good assessment of what is going on it's not that hard to see. =20
=20
The seals body has lots of blubber to protect it. Most have 1-3" of fat =
over their muscle and skeleton which in turn is covered by a thick =
leathery hide. Their flippers are tougher again and with their =
relatively short length and flexibility receive little visible external =
damage. Now for the chink in their armor, the Head! What protection does =
it have? A hide that's tough but not as thick as the rest of its body, =
no thick layer of fat, and nothing for skull flexibility. Added to this =
are multiple openings in its leather coat (eyes, ears, nose, and =
greatest of all mouth). Once dead, the skull gets further fractured and =
crushed by the constant movements of the ice. Now the only thing =
preventing the loss of its head is the relatively thin skin and tissues =
inside these natural openings and possibly other cuts incurred during =
the prolonged crushing action of the ice (until they drift clear or the =
ice melts). Decomposition starts right away to weaken and consume the =
connective tissues and flesh in these already vulnerable areas like the =
parts of the mouth and then parts of the skull start dislodging and =
falling away. Leaving only tattered skin where the head was and no =
direct clue to the beheading. Most of these dead seals have been =
floating along with the ice flows for weeks before they make land fall =
along our shores allowing ample time to complete the beheading process. =
In time the vent will weaken and you'll end up with a seal sausage being =
flushed out from both ends until only the skin remains and they can =
remain for a very long time in some areas (again lots of experience).
=20
These same storms pushed the ice flows/dead seals further to the south =
west this year than in most years in the recent past.=20
Now I'm not a scientist but life can teach us volumes if we take the =
time to take notice!
=20
Tom K
Canso
----- Original Message -----=20
From: jen cooper=20
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca=20
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 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 were 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.=20
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
>=20
> And for those of you with stronger stomachs...
>=20
> I'm very curious about this headlessness issue. Is there any =
evidence
> to the method of beheading? Cut, chopped, crushed and torn asunder?
>=20
> Randy
>=20
> 2009/4/13 Richard Stern <sternrichard@gmail.com>:
> > There were at least 4 dead seals on Pond Cove Beach this w/e. All =
were
> > 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 =
most 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 =
(lots 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
>=20
>=20
> Randy
> _________________________________
> RF Lauff
> Way in the boonies of
> Antigonish County, NS.
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Learn how!
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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial>I'm trying this message again.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial>I sent it off yesterday and have yet to see=20
it.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial>Tom K</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial>Canso</FONT></DIV></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message -----=20
<DIV style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A=20
title=3Dterri.crane@ns.sympatico.ca=20
href=3D"mailto:terri.crane@ns.sympatico.ca">Terri Crane</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=3Dnaturens@chebucto.ns.ca=20
href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</A> =
</DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, April 14, 2009 10:34 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> Re: [NatureNS] Dead Seal</DIV></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial>Hi All</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #444444; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">May I =
offer some=20
food for thought on this subject?</SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #444444; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma"><?xml:namespace=20
prefix =3D o ns =3D "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"=20
/><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #444444; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #444444; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I thought =
in my own=20
little brain that this all makes sense (to me anyway).</SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #444444; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #444444; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #444444; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I believe =
the=20
extreme annual movement and pressure of ice caused by the late winter =
storms=20
crushing the seals is the main mechanism of the mass seal deaths. With =
the=20
decrease of ice in the gulf and the increase in the size of the seal =
herds,=20
there would be more seals occupying the margins/fringes of the flows =
which are=20
the most dangerous place to be during mid to late winter storms. In the =
Canso=20
area the arrival of dead seals on the beaches seems to be one of=20
the annual rights of spring. Most of these seals are beaters (young =
harp=20
seals) with the odd just weaned Grey seal pup (same length, much bigger =
around,=20
usually still have the long "white coat") thrown in for good=20
measure.</SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #444444; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #444444; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #444444; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Now to =
address the=20
headlessness of the seals, if you step back and take a good assessment =
of what=20
is going on it's not that hard to see. </SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #444444; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #444444; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #444444; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The seals =
body has=20
lots of blubber to protect it. Most have 1-3" of fat over their muscle =
and=20
skeleton which in turn is covered by a thick leathery hide. Their =
flippers=20
are tougher again and with their relatively short length and flexibility =
receive=20
little visible external damage. Now for the chink in their armor, the =
Head! What=20
protection does it have? A hide that's tough but not as thick as the =
rest of its=20
body, no thick layer of fat, and nothing for skull flexibility. Added to =
this are multiple openings in its leather coat (eyes, ears, nose, =
and=20
greatest of all mouth). Once dead, the skull gets further fractured =
and=20
crushed by the constant movements of the ice. Now the only =
thing=20
preventing the loss of its head is the relatively thin skin and =
tissues=20
inside these natural openings and possibly other cuts incurred during =
the=20
prolonged crushing action of the ice (until they drift clear or the ice =
melts).=20
Decomposition starts right away to weaken and consume the connective =
tissues and=20
flesh in these already vulnerable areas like the parts of the mouth and =
then=20
parts of the skull start dislodging and falling away. Leaving only =
tattered skin=20
where the head was and no direct clue to the beheading. Most of these =
dead seals=20
have been floating along with the ice flows for weeks before they make =
land fall=20
along our shores allowing ample time to complete the beheading process. =
In time=20
the vent will weaken and you'll end up with a seal sausage being flushed =
out=20
from both ends until only the skin remains and they can remain for a =
very long=20
time in some areas (again lots of experience).</SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #444444; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #444444; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma"> </SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #444444; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma">These=20
same storms pushed the ice flows/dead seals further to the south =
west this=20
year than in most years in the recent past. </SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #444444; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma"><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #444444; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Now I'm =
not a=20
scientist but life can teach us volumes if we take the time to take=20
notice!</SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #444444; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #444444; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #444444; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Tom =
K</SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #444444; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">Canso</SPAN></P></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
<A title=3Differcooper@hotmail.com =
href=3D"mailto:iffercooper@hotmail.com">jen=20
cooper</A> </DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=3Dnaturens@chebucto.ns.ca=20
href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</A> =
</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, April 14, 2009 =
3:41=20
PM</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: [NatureNS] Dead =
Seal</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>i have no offering of a method for the 'headlessness =
issue' but=20
this is the 4th year (that i've been observing) in a row that headless =
seals=20
wash up all around municipal cape breton. there seems to be 2 seal =
hunts, the=20
one were all used to hearing about on the news each year and this =
second one=20
where the pelts are not utilized and all seems to be for naught. =
literally=20
hundreds of headless seals wash up on the shores of sydney harbour =
every year=20
and it never seems to be investigated. i assume its fishermen but i'd =
love to=20
know for sure. <BR><BR>jen cooper<BR><BR>> From:=20
randy.lauff@gmail.com<BR>> Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:02:23 =
-0300<BR>>=20
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Dead Seal<BR>> To: =
naturens@chebucto.ns.ca<BR>>=20
<BR>> And for those of you with stronger stomachs...<BR>> =
<BR>> I'm=20
very curious about this headlessness issue. Is there any =
evidence<BR>> to=20
the method of beheading? Cut, chopped, crushed and torn =
asunder?<BR>>=20
<BR>> Randy<BR>> <BR>> 2009/4/13 Richard Stern=20
<sternrichard@gmail.com>:<BR>> > There were at least 4 =
dead seals=20
on Pond Cove Beach this w/e. All were<BR>> > young, and headless =
-=20
similar to those described on the CBC news at<BR>> > =
Lawrencetown Beach=20
this evening. They were providing a treat for the local<BR>> > =
Turkey=20
Vultures. I have no idea what killed them., but perhaps it's a<BR>> =
>=20
province-wide phenomenon.<BR>> ><BR>> > Richard<BR>>=20
><BR>> > On Mon, Apr 13, 2009 at 6:03 PM, Terri Crane=20
<terri.crane@ns.sympatico.ca><BR>> > wrote:<BR>>=20
>><BR>> >> This year the outer edge of the Ice flow was =
pushed=20
out of the Gulf and<BR>> >> off Cape Breton earlier than =
usual and=20
large volumes passed just off our<BR>> >> shores heading=20
southwest.<BR>> >><BR>> >> I'd say that the early =
and large=20
out flows of ice are responsible for this<BR>> >>=20
years further south than usual deposits of seal carcus'. I'm=20
sure most of<BR>> >> us along the north=20
eastern shore don't mind sharing this early-mid =
spring<BR>>=20
>> abundance.<BR>> >><BR>> >> In the next =
short while=20
if you have a carcus on you beach don't let it get<BR>> >> =
above the=20
tide line. You'll be sure to have you're own smelly, oil<BR>> =
>>=20
producing, colony of decomposers that will last into mid summer (lots=20
of<BR>> >> experence). Even though the water is cold it seem =
to=20
excelerate the decomp<BR>> >> of the seals while keeping the =
smell in=20
check (relatively speaking). An off<BR>> >> shore =
wind on a=20
falling tide can make it go away.<BR>> >><BR>> =
>> Tom=20
K.<BR>> >> Canso<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> Randy<BR>>=20
_________________________________<BR>> RF Lauff<BR>> Way in the =
boonies=20
of<BR>> Antigonish County, NS.<BR><BR>
<HR>
Tell the whole story with photos, right from your Messenger window. <A =
href=3D"http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=3D9650732" target=3D_new>Learn =
how!</A>=20
</BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>
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