The Day has A Seal of Approval

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The Seals of Cape Cod

Nothing like spending a day with herd of gray seals in Chatham, Cape Cod. I confess I didn’t just want to see the seals. I thought there might be a small chance that I’d get a glimpse of a Great White Shark. It’s been 7 years since I’ve been back to see the seals so I figured it was about time. Of course it meant another weekend drive over one of the bridges but I was hoping I’d be going against the traffic. Turns out I was. The Sunday exodus from the Cape had route 6, the Cape Highway, backed up for miles leaving the cape.

Beachcomber Seal ToursYellow beachcomber boat

I’d called Beachcomber Seal Tours before I started for the cape. They said they had room for me on the 12 pm tour. I knew it would be close but I jumped in the car and headed off. With luck and traffic on my side I arrived with 10 minutes to spare! The folks at Beachcomber Seal Tours are very warm and welcoming. They make sure the children are fitted with life jackets and everyone gets a “pit stop” before we are all loaded onto a bus for the trip to the marina.

Chatham Light House

Chatham Harbor and waterways

The little orange boat holds about 29 people. We boarded by climbing a little step stool and stepping over the side. The captain stands at a center console to pilot the boat. It makes it a little hard to hear his commentary but the fresh sea air in your face on a sunny day is a pretty awesome way to spend a summer afternoon.

Sleeping SealSeals, seals and more seals

We passed Nauset Beach, recently the scene of a Great White sighting. As we swung toward North Beach the seals were suddenly right in front of us. They looked like they were piled on top of each other but our captain explained that each one has it place. A steady moaning sound came from the piles of seals. A few were in the water. They would rise up from the bottom and then sink back down. This is how they sleep. True enough, none of them had their eyes open!

 

Pile of seals

Before heading back we took a run past the shark buoy and Lighthouse Beach.

Shark ping buoy

 

 

Too soon it was time to return to the dock. The very successful 90 minute tour was at an end. No great whites but lots of seals.

Great Whites Prowl the Coast of Cape Cod

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Cape Cod Paddle boarder attacked!

Shark bite in paddelbaord

082317- Paddleboard bitten by shark off Marconi Beach in Wellfleet, MA. (Cape Cod National Seashore photo)

That’s a juicy headline for Cape Cod. And not just on the cape. It made the headlines on all the local Boston stations too. The attack was in 3 ft of water off Marconi Beach, Wellfleet, Ma.

 

 

 

Where are all the Sharks?

Sharks have always been summer visitors to the Cape. But now that the seal population has exploded more and more sharks are here. So why do we have so many seals? In 1972 the Marine Mammal Protection Act made it illegal to harm or harass these animals. Great White sharks help keep the seal populations in check. Believe it or not, we need more white sharks to balance out  the seals.

Swimmers and boaters should understand that sharing the water with great whites means sharing the beaches and land with fewer seals. Check out this map of sightings, tagings and pings!  http://www.capecodtimes.com/great-white-sharks-map

Cape Cod Officials want to Kill Great Whites

Is it JAWS all over again? In 1975 we were all afraid to go in the water when Steven Spielberg turned Peter Benchley’s book into a big screen success. It was set on Martha’s Vineyard. Now in a twist of life imitating  art we have Great Whites paroling our coast. Once again our local officials want to wage war on these magnificent creatures. Why do we think we have the right to kill off any animal that interferes with humans? These Great Whites are just doing their own thing acting as apex predators. That’s what they are supposed to do.

Killing Sharks is not the answerGreat white shark swimming

Why do we humans feel we have the right to kill off the predators. I don’t want anyone hurt but why is the ocean any different than bears in the forest? Do you let your child wander alone in grizzly country? Sharks are hunting for food. When humans go hunting most often it is for sport. What if the animals we hunt could decide to kill us because we are a threat?

What do you think?

Should we hunt down the Great White Sharks of Cape Cod? Yes or No?

Please share this post to raise awareness. Thank you

Exotic Animal Sanctuary Right Here In Massachusetts!

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Welcome to Animal Adventuresfluffy bunny

The sun came out after all so I was off to check out Animal Adventures. It was really easy to find and only an hour drive. Once you take the exit off 495 you’re practically there. I was anxious to see what they consider exotic as far as animals are concerned.  The parking is minimal and cars lined the street when I arrived. I didn’t expect such a crowd.

First Impressions are important.

Ham Solo the Pot Bellied Pig

Ham Solo

It was a little after 1 pm when I arrived. As I approached the entrance I saw a well built play castle that young children were climbing on. A staff member greeted me and pointed me to the entrance where I could buy my ticket and get an arm band. I passed a pot bellied pig named Ham Solo. He made me think of my friend’s little pig. Those tails never stop wagging!

There was a presentation going on in the next room. It looked like a full house. So far the staff I was meeting were all very warm and friendly. I decided to explore the grounds first and catch the next show at 3:30.

Eurasian OwlWhere do they get all these animals?

As I wandered from cage to cage I felt very bad for some of the animals. The cages were clean but in many cases small and dark. The animals seemed to be well cared for if a bit cramped. They have some really interesting creatures. There are a pair of Eurasian owls, a red fox and a white fox. I don’t think it was an albino because it’s eyes didn’t look pink.Red Fox

 

 

 

 

 

A gorgeous serval  cat had it’s own couch to lounge on.There were bunnies and alligators, an arctic fox. (It looked like a mini gray wolf), a  bobcat, goats, a pony and monkey. (Deep breath) A turkey, a tortoise, some chinchilla’s, hamsters and more. There were snakes and reptiles for the folks that love those scaly creatures . I guess you could say something for everyone. And you know what, all of these animals are abandoned. They come from Zoos, private owners, shelters and breeders. These poor animals don’t know what it is to be wild. They are totally dependent on humans for survival.

I think the staff truly love and care about the animals and try their best. But it’s still sad.

Leopard

The Great American Eclipse of 2017

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What did you think of the Eclipse?solar eclipse

What were you doing and where were you when the Great American Eclipse took place Monday? It was billed as a once in a lifetime event but that’s not really true. America was treated to a solar eclipse 38 years ago on February 26, 1979. The difference between then and now is that the path of totality in 1979 was the Pacific Northwest. This one is called The Great American Eclipse because it can only be seen in the US. It started over Oregon and ended near Charleston, SC.

Path of Totality

Starting around 10 am local time in Oregon it traveled across the US at an amazing 1700 mph. The whole thing was over in about 1.5 hours. Kentucky experienced most of the action with the sun blocked out for around two minutes and 41 seconds. We only got a partial eclipse here in Massachusetts but it was still very interesting. In fact I found I was much more excited when I actually saw it than in thinking about it.

partial eclipseI wish I Could Have a “Do Over”

I didn’t get excited about the eclipse until about the week before. After a mad scramble I got my hands on some glasses. But it was on the whale watch Sunday that I really figured out how I messed up. I was in the office hard at work through the whole eclipse. Well most of it anyway. I did step out for part of it. But the office is surrounded by trees so the viewing area is a bit obscured. Lots of people from other offices were watching.  I should have taken the day off and gone out on a boat trip. Talk about a wide open view!

Amazing World of Technology

I made sure that I wasn’t too left out even if I was stuck in the office. NASA, Facebook, U Tube were just a few of the online sources for viewing. I could watch the moon taking a bite out of the sun in Oregon! Isn’t technology amazing?

Next Time

The next solar eclipse that is going to cover America is April 8, 2024. April can be cloudy and chilly. No guarantee I’ll be able to get any better views then. Best to make the most of this one. I would love to see a Total eclipse now that I’ve gotten a taste of a partial. What about you?

Its a Beautiful Day on Stellwagan Banks

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Sun, Seas and Stellwagan BanksWhale Tail

Taking advantage of  a beautiful day I climbed aboard another Captain John Boats Whale Watching Tour to Stellwagan bank. I’ve had a tough time seeing Breaching whales when I’ve gone out. They seem to come around  on every trip except the one I’m on! Very frustrating! The trips have been good. There are whales every time but not doing really exciting behaviors.

View from the BowWhere to ride? Top deck or bottom?

I’ve been riding the top deck thinking I’d get a better angle for my photos. The problem is that if I’m on the right, the whales are on the left. Ugh! It’s just the luck of the draw. Usually when the whales show up on one side, everyone runs across to that side of the boat. I’ve stopped doing that. But today I think I have a solution.

I’m King of the World

I grabbed the middle seat in the front row on deck one. This is right at the bow. I can run out to the tip of the bow and watch the whales on the right, left and front. About the only view I don’t have here is off the stern. I made myself comfortable for the hour and a half ride to Stellwagan Bank National Marine Sanctuary,

 Gurnet Light

WOW A 10- Plus Plus Plus tripWhales slpashing a boat

The first whales we found were doing “close ups” for another Whale Watching ship. There were a lot of small fishing boats in the area too. As we approached a whale did a full body breach right next to us. Of course I missed it.  I only saw the splash. The next breach practically landed on one of the fishing boats. There were flipper slaps and tail breaches and multiple body breaches! It was during all this activity that I managed to catch a full body breach. We’d only just begun and the trip was already a winner.

 

Breaching Whale