Category Archives: Cape Cod

WMEO: Seagull Crime Wave Sweeps Cape Cod

Posted on by | No Comments

Two cats sit at a WMEO 9 news desk with a microphone and papers, an orange cat on the left and a black cat on the right, with a newsroom backdrop showing seagulls and the headline “WMEO 9 – Crime on the Cape.”

By Banner & Balboa, WMEO Newsroom- We Meow, You Listen

Cape Cod residents are sounding the alarm this week as seagulls continue their bold streak of snack‑related crime. Witnesses report gulls swooping down without warning, grabbing sandwiches, chips, and in one case, an entire slice of pizza, before fleeing the scene like feathered fugitives.

WMEO reached out to several victims, all of whom described the attacks the same way: “Sudden, startling, funny… A seagull stands on an outdoor wooden table and steals a fried snack from a plate of food, surrounded by colorful metal chairs in an outdoor dining area. and absolutely disgusting.”

Banner, reporting live from the WMEO Coastal Desk, says the gulls have become so brazen that some tourists are now eating lunch under umbrellas — not for shade, but for protection.

Banner: “Authorities say the gulls are acting alone, but we suspect an organized snack‑stealing ring. Possibly unionized.”

Balboa attempted to interview one of the gulls but was met with a loud squawk and a very pointed stare. As WMEO’s resident snack addict, he took the crime wave very personally.

Balboa: “Authorities say the gulls are ‘extremely food‑motivated.’ As someone who is also extremely food‑motivated, I understand the lifestyle — but this is crossing a line. One suspect even tried to steal my microphone, possibly mistaking it for a breadstick.”

A posted sign shows a cartoon seagull holding a burger, with text warning that no refunds are given if a seagull steals your food.Local restaurants have begun advising customers to “guard your food like it’s the last donut on Earth.” Beachgoers have taken to eating inside their cars — a strategy WMEO officially endorses. Gulls have no respect for personal space or picnic etiquette.

Speaking from experience: once a gull lands on your plate, lunch is over.” There is no coming back from that.

WMEO will continue monitoring the situation as the gulls escalate their snack‑related activities. Citizens are urged to remain vigilant, keep sandwiches covered, and avoid eye contact with birds carrying criminal intent.

A seagull, an orange cat, and a black cat sit together at a WMEO 9 news desk; the black cat hisses while guarding a plate of treats as the seagull leans in toward the food.

Thanks for Watching. 
WMEO 9 — Going to commercial while Balboa secures the snacks

 

WMEO Breaking News from the Nature Desk- Baby Raccoon Rescued

Posted on by

2 cats acting as anchors for the WMEO news room, one orange and one black

🐾 WMEO 9 – BREAKING NEWS ALERT

Baby Raccoon Rescued on Cape Cod

From the Nature Desk — We Meow, You Listen

Banner (opening): Good evening, viewers. Banner here at the WMEO Nature Desk with another summer headline from Cape Cod — and this time, it’s all about one very determined baby raccoon who found himself in a storm drain and in need of a hero squad.

 When animal lovers reported the trapped raccoon, Team Raccoon assembled fast — Fire & Rescue, Police, and Public Works all converged on the scene. It was a full‑scale operation for one tiny trash panda.

Balboa: And when even this elite squad couldn’t free the little guy, they didn’t give up. Nope. They removed the entire storm drain and transported it — raccoon and all — straight to the medical staff at the Cape Wildlife Center. That’s what I call VIP service.

Rescue workers wearing gloves carefully work to free a baby raccoon whose head is stuck through a metal storm drain grate, with tools, a traffic cone, and a vehicle visible in the background.

Image: Cape Cod Wildlife Center

Large yellow plastic container of Wellsley Farms canola oil with a green-and-white label showing product details such as “100% Pure,” “Cholesterol Free,” and “5 Quarts.”Banner: At the Wildlife Center, veterinarians used modern rescue techniques to safely free him. After sedating the baby raccoon, they applied canola oil and wrapped him in garbage bags to gently ease him out of the grate.

Balboa: Canola oil and garbage bags? Banner, that sounds like the start of a delicious recipe. Proper preparation is everything.

📢 Public Service Reminder

Banner: Before we continue, a quick safety note from the Nature Desk —this rescue was  performed by trained professionals. If you ever encounter a trapped or injured wild animal, do not attempt to free it yourself. Call local authorities or a wildlife rescue organization. It keeps you safe, and it keeps the animal safe.

Balboa: Exactly. Leave the storm‑drain extractions — and the questionable cooking techniques — to the experts.

Banner: Despite Balboa’s culinary commentary, we’re happy to report that the baby raccoon is now resting comfortably at the Wildlife Center. He’ll remain under observation, but the rescue was a complete success.

Baby raccoon sitting inside a beige pet carrier lined with a towel and mat, looking out through the open doorway.

Balboa: A round of applause — or paw‑plause — for everyone involved. Teamwork saved a life today.

One ornage cat and 1 black clat signing off the WMEO news room desk

This has been a WMEO Breaking News Alert from the Nature Desk.

We Meow. You Listen.

 

Shark Week Is Over, But Breton Didn’t Get the Memo

Posted on by

A great white shark swims directly toward the camera in clear blue water, its pointed snout, large body, and visible teeth illuminated by shimmering light patterns from the surface.

A New Englander’s Fascination With Sharks

I’m from New England, and sharks fascinate me — especially now that they’ve returned to Cape Cod waters in such big numbers. So every now and then, I like to check in on what’s happening with our top newsmakers. This year, the headline grabbers are Contender and Breton. Let’s check in with them, shall we.

Contender Makes Headlines

If you’ve been watching shark news lately, you’ve probably seen Contender splashed across the headlines. He’s huge, he’s dramatic, and he moves like he owns the entire Atlantic. Every time he pings, the internet lights up. He’s the kind of shark that makes people stop scrolling and say, “Whoa.”

Most Great Whites Head North for Summer

By late July, most of the great whites tagged off the East Coast have already left Florida behind. They follow cooler water, chase prey, and avoid the Florida bathtub temperatures. It’s the standard summer migration: northward, predictable, sensible.

But sharks don’t read the rulebook.

Enter Breton: Florida’s Surprise Visitor

While most of the great whites are enjoying their summer vacation in New England and Canada, Breton — one of the most famous sharks ever tagged — decided Florida was still on the menu.

He pinged off the Florida coast recently, surprising everyone who follows shark movements. Breton has always been a bit of a wildcard, but showing up in Florida in late July? That’s bold even for him.

It’s like he said,

“Shark Week is over, but I’m not done.”

And here’s the cool part: Contender, Breton, and dozens of other sharks and sea animals can be tracked in real time using the free OCEARCH Global Shark Tracker app. If you’ve never watched a 1,500‑pound shark take a summer road trip up the East Coast, you’re missing out.

You can find the app here

Shark Tracker: Where Are They Now?

If you check the tracker today, you’ll see something interesting: Contender’s last ping on 7/11 was off the coast of Maine.

So while he’s been dominating the headlines, he’s actually cruising the cooler northern waters like a seasoned summer traveler.

Breton, meanwhile, is the wildcard — popping up off Florida when almost every other great white has already headed north. It’s classic Breton behavior: unpredictable, dramatic, and guaranteed to make shark watchers sit up a little straighter.

The Real Shark Story Isn’t on TV

Shark Week comes and goes. The sharks keep moving.

And sometimes, they surprise us — like Breton cruising Florida while everyone else heads north, or Contender quietly pinging off Maine while the headlines shout his name.

I

Sharks, Seals, and Sea Serpents

Posted on by

 

🦈 Cape Cod’s August Secrets: Sharks, Seals, and Sea Serpents

August on Cape Cod is a paradox—sun-drenched beaches and salt-kissed breezes above, and a world of mystery swirling just beneath the waves. While vacationers flock to the shore for lobster rolls and lighthouses, the Atlantic is busy hosting its own seasonal spectacle. Let’s dive into the secrets that stir beneath the surface.

 

Chatham Fish Market Aug 2011- photo credit Deb Neumann

🐟 The Real Stars of Summer: Seals and Sharks

Cape Cod’s seal population booms in late summer, especially around Monomoy Island and Chatham. These sleek swimmers lounge like sunbathers on sandbars, drawing both admiration and attention—from above and below.

Pile of seals

Seals of Monomoy Island photo credit Deb Neumann

Enter the great white sharks.

Extreme close up of Great White Shark looking directly at camera smiling Extreme close up of Great White Shark looking directly at camera smiling young great white shark stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images

Photo credit internet

August is peak season for these apex predators, who follow the seal buffet with precision. Thanks to tagging efforts by the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, we now know just how active these visitors are. Shark sightings have become so common that beachgoers check tracking apps as often as the weather.

A book about Cape Cod sharks and Greg Skomal's career ...

Dr. Greg Skomel tagging a great white- photo internet

 

But fear not—shark safety protocols are strong, and most encounters are nothing more than a fin in the distance.

shark2.jpg

Paddleboarder and shark 7/4/25 Cape Cod – photo credit Madeline Cronin

 

Still, there’s something thrilling about knowing you’re sharing the sea with legends.

 

🌊 The Lore Beneath: Sea Serpents and Saltwater Whispers

Long before GPS and GoPros, Cape Codders told tales of serpentine creatures gliding through the fog. From the 1800s onward, reports of undulating beasts off Provincetown and Nantucket stirred imaginations. Some described them as eel-like with horse heads; others swore they saw coils the size of schooners.

Are they misidentified whales? Overzealous oarfish? Or something more cryptic?

A 'sea serpent' is seen lurking off Cape Cod. But some have ...

Meanwhile off Cape Cod

While science leans toward skepticism, the stories persist—passed down like seashells from one generation to the next. And isn’t that part of the magic? That the sea still holds secrets we haven’t quite solved.

🐚 August’s Invitation

Cape Cod in August is more than a postcard—it’s a living story. Whether you’re scanning the horizon for dorsal fins, watching seals bob like buoys, or wondering what might lurk in the deep, this month invites curiosity.

So pack your binoculars, your sunscreen, and maybe a pinch of imagination. The coast is calling—and it has stories to tell.

photo credit Deb Neumann

 

Things are Happening Here

Posted on by | 2 Comments

Things are Happening

I may have been MIA the past 2 weeks but that’s not to say things aren’t happening here. Where should I begin? Maybe with the excuses on why I haven’t posted lately. 

The Annual HOA Meeting

The first miss was 2 Saturdays ago. I had planned to write something after the HOA meeting. I hate these meetings but go because I think owners need to be aware of what their board is doing. We just had an assessment for new decks but nothing has been done so far and I wanted an update. I never dreamed that before the meeting was over that the police would be called when a 40ish unit owner provoked a fight with our 70 year old property manager. Basically we have two loud mouth bullies that hijacked the meeting. They yelled over everyone else and were disrespectful of our board. Our 1 hour meeting lasted 4 hours! In the end the new owners were intimated into voting most of the old board off the island. I am sick over it. If I could sell my unit and move I would.

So what about Sunday

2021 Equinox

Well I could have taken time for a post on Sunday but I had an appointment at the car dealership. I guess there is a big demand for used cars so the dealership called me to see if I’d like to upgrade to a 2021 vehicle. I agreed to take a look at what they had available on the lot. My last 2 cars had been a dark gray and a black but I’ve always loved white cars. Sure enough, they had 1 white Equinox left. I couldn’t say no. So after about 4 hours of doing paperwork and a short test drive we moved my personal belongings from my black 2019 Equinox to my new 2021 White Equinox. It always amazes me that I can just drive right off the lot with the new car. Of course I’ll need to go back on a weekday to get my inspection sticker but other than that, I’m good to go. 

Basking Shark

Meanwhile off Cape Cod

Captain John’s Boats are posting lots of Whale pictures. One research boat spotted a Basking Shark! Very rare in Cape waters but the big news was the lobster fisherman who tried to imitate Jonah. Yup Unbelievable. He actually got “eaten” by a humpback whale.  The whales feed by opening their mouths and lunging though schools of fish scooping up anything in front of them. He was in the wrong place at  the wrong time. Luckily he was spit back out with only some bumps and bruises. Now he’s telling his story on the late night talk shows.  

So you see, in spite of my silence, things are happening here!

Humpback Whale feeding