Posts Tagged ‘MERR Institute’
MERR to the Rescue of Stranded Horseshoe Crabs
The MERR Institute was called to help rescue of a huge number of horseshoe crabs in the Rehoboth Bay and Arnell Creek near Rehoboth Beach. Director of MERR, Suzanne Thurman, says the crabs were likely looking for a beach-like area to spawn and crossed a road and got stuck in dense patches of phragmites. Recent…
Read MoreUnderweight Harp Seal Rescued From North Shores Beach by MERR Officials
A young male harp seal was rescued by officials from the Marine Education, Research & Rehabilitation (MERR) Institute in Lewes last week on the beach at North Shores in Rehoboth Beach. A passerby spotted the seal rolling on its back, which officials say could be caused by a lice infection, and contacted MERR. MERR found…
Read MoreMERR Dolphin Count Scheduled For Sat. July 16th
If you are interested in spending two hours counting dolphins, you may want to mark Saturday, July 16th on your calendar. That is the date of the annual MERR Institute (Marine Education, Research and Rehabilitation Institute) dolphin count. Volunteers will be stationed at designated observation points between Fenwick Island and Woodland Beach. For more information,…
Read MoreStranded Grey Seal Pup “Louis Armstrong” Rescued At Assateague
A grey seal pup that was recently rescued from Assateague Island National Seashore is being rehabilitated at the National Aquarium Animal Care and Rescue Center in Baltimore.Marine scientists said Wednesday that the pup was found stranded and dehydrated, with wounds of unknown origin, and was too young to survive in the ocean without its mother.…
Read MoreMERR Institute Welcomes Reports Of Seal Sightings – But, Please Don’t Get Near Them
Seals have made their usual seasonal return to Delmarva beaches and waterways – and with that, marine biologists are cautioning locals and visitors not to get too close to them. According to Lewes-based Marine Education, Research and Rehabilitation Institute, four species of seals typically visit the area during the winter months and can often be…
Read MoreUPDATED: Fin Whale Dies in Delaware Bay off Cape Henlopen, Officials Investigate and Bury Carcass
UPDATED 8/29/21 – Despite best efforts to assist the 57’ young male fin whale that stranded on a sandbar on thebayside of the Point at Cape Henlopen State Park, the whale ultimately beached itself for thefinal time on the oceanside of the Point on the evening of Thursday, August 26th. The whaledied on its own…
Read MoreRescued Seal Tom Sawyer Returns To The Ocean
A juvenile grey seal, Tom Sawyer, has been released into the ocean at Assateague State Park. The seal was rehabilitated at the National Aquarium Animal Care and Rescue Center, after being rescued from a Delaware beach in April, in coordination with the Marine Education Research and Rehabilitation Institute. Tom Sawyer was found to be suffering…
Read MoreMERR Institute Treats Rescued Seal Pup
A gray seal pup has been rescued from the Gordon’s Pond area. According to the Marine Education Research and Rehabilitation Institute, the male seal was found to be underweight and with bite wounds on Monday. Otherwise, the pup is described as ‘alert and feisty’ at the time. The MERR Institute is still evaluating the seal,…
Read MoreRescued Seal Pup Returns To The Ocean
Eloise, a grey seal pup rescued at Cape Henlopen, has been released back into the ocean at Assateague State Park. The seal was rehabilitated at the National Aquarium Animal Care and Rescue Center over 42 days. She was found to be malnourished and with a few cuts on her neck. Eliose was trained how to…
Read MoreGray Seal Pup Rescued, Rehabilitated, Released
As spring begins, Lewes-based Marine Education Research and Rehabilitation Institute has been responding to several seal rescues. A gray seal pup was found on the South Bethany Beach over the weekend and was determined to be under-nourished. After receiving treatment, the pup named Maxwell was released at a beach along Delaware Bay. “This young seal…
Read MoreAiling Seal Pup Rescued by MERR at Cape Henlopen State Park
The Marine Education Research and Rehabilitation (MERR) Institute responded to a very young gray seal pup on Friday, Feb. 12, near the great dune at Cape Henlopen State Park. The pup, who is only about 3 weeks old and still very small, was huddled up against the dune when she was spotted by a beach…
Read MoreRescued Seal Pippi Is Back In The Ocean
Pippi, a gray seal rescued at Dewey Beach in February, has been successfully rehabilitated at the National Aquarium in Baltimore and is now back in her ocean home. The Marine Education Research Rehabilitation Institute, or MERR, coordinated the rescue nine months ago. Pippi had a number of ailments, was malnourished and dehydrated and appeared to…
Read MoreRare Endangered Sea Turtle Rescued At Fenwick Island
A rare endangered juvenile Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle has been rescued in Fenwick Island. The MERR Institute received a call Thursday from residents at Keenwick on the Bay who discovered the injured turtle. The turtle had been waving its flipper toward its head, where there was a wound. MERR personnel brought the turtle to its…
Read MoreMERR Needs Your Help with Annual Dolphin Count
How would you like to sit on the beach for a couple of hours – and help out the MERR Institute by counting dolphins? The Marine Education, Research and Rehabilitation Institute is looking for counters to sit at predesignated points from Fenwick Island to Woodland Beach on Saturday, July 20 from 9 to 11am. Volunteers…
Read MoreMERR Investigates 4 Dolphin and 3 Sea Turtle Deaths
It’s been a busy week for MERR Institute volunteers. Suzanne Thurman, executive director, says her organization has investigated the deaths of four bottlenose dolphins and two loggerhead sea turtles last week. This is one of the loggerheads which was discovered early Sunday in Dewey’s surf by Tony Crivella of Dewey Beach Beautification & Raking. Thurman said this loggerhead…
Read MoreDead Dolphin Washes to Shore off Rehoboth Avenue
One of several dolphin deaths investigated by the MERR Institute this past week. The remains of a dolphin calf came ashore around 4:15 p.m. this past Saturday just south of Rehoboth Avenue. Suzanne Thurman, executive director of the MERR Institute, said the calf was “Fairly decomposed so some of the clues were obliterated. It had some…
Read More11 Dead Dolphins in Past 12 Days
As of Memorial Day, Suzanne Thurman, MERR Institute executive director, says her organization has investigated the deaths of 11 dolphins in the past 12 days. “It is an uptick,” she said. “A few calves which is typical for this time of year, but that’s a lot of adults,” she pointed out. One of the 11…
Read MoreSeals come to Delmarva beaches, people asked to keep distance
Seals are making their way to Delmarva shores; sightings of harbor seals reported in the past week on Assateague Island, at Ocean City, and in Delaware. While it may be tempting to approach the seals, officials with MERR Institute say its best to keep at least 150 feet away from any seals you see on…
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