Facial recognition can help conserve seals, scientists say
November 23, 2022 GMTFREEPORT, Maine (AP) — Facial recognition technology is mostly associated with uses such as surveillance and the authentication of human faces, but scientists believe they've found a new use for it — saving seals.
Wily seal that cruised to pond surrenders at police station
September 23, 2022 GMTBEVERLY, Mass. (AP) — A gray seal that wandered into a Massachusetts pond and evaded authorities’ attempts to capture him turned himself in Friday after waddling up to the local police station.
The gray seal first appeared earlier this month in Shoe Pond in the city of Beverly, northeast of Boston.
Swimmer injured by Hawaiian monk seal with pup in Waikiki
July 26, 2022 GMTHONOLULU (AP) — A swimmer at a beach in Waikiki was injured this weekend after encountering an endangered Hawaiian monk seal with a young pup.
Hawaii Marine Animal Response, a nonprofit conservation organization that helps monitor protected species, said their workers witnessed a swimmer come into contact with the mother monk seal known as Rocky on Sunday morning.
‘Unusual’: Feds investigate seal deaths linked to avian flu
July 20, 2022 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The deaths of dozens of seals off the coast of Maine has been deemed an “unusual mortality event,” sparking a federal investigation into strandings that appear linked to avian influenza.
High number of seal deaths linked to bird flu, feds say
July 5, 2022 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — An unusual number of seals are becoming stranded and dying off Maine this summer, and avian influenza is to blame, the federal government said Tuesday.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed that samples from four Maine seals tested positive for the virus.
Alaska tribe nominates Pribilof Islands area for sanctuary
June 8, 2022 GMTJUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — An Alaska Native tribe has nominated for consideration as a national marine sanctuary an area around the Pribilof Islands that supports Stellar sea lions, northern fur seals and other marine life.
Endangered Hawaiian monk seal population highest in decades
May 6, 2022 GMTHONOLULU (AP) — The population of endangered Hawaiian monk seals has surpassed a level not seen in more than two decades, according to federal officials.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials this week said that the seal population has steadily increased over the past two years.
Cops corral slippery seal on jaunt through Long Island town
April 3, 2022 GMTRIVERHEAD, N.Y. (AP) — A wayward seal has been captured after an early morning foray through a Long Island, New York, town.
Police in Southampton said they received a call at approximately 6:30 a.m.
Aquarium provides tips for people who spot seal pups
February 6, 2022 GMTWESTERLY, R.I. (AP) — It's seal pup season, and the Mystic Aquarium’s Animal Rescue Program has some tips for people who spot the animals along the shores of Rhode Island and Connecticut.
Pups, after nursing for three to four weeks after birth, begin to learn how to survive on their own, a crucial period for their transition into adulthood, the aquarium said in a statement.
Seal skips ocean, makes home 100 miles up Hudson River
January 6, 2022 GMTKINGSTON, N.Y. (AP) — A juvenile harbor seal has forgone life in the ocean, instead choosing a home nearly 100 miles up the Hudson River — behavior that wildlife officials called “unprecedented.”
The animal was likely abandoned as a pup by his mother in Maine, officials say.
Endangered Hawaiian monk seal shot in head on Molokai
December 22, 2021 GMTHONOLULU (AP) — An endangered Hawaiian monk seal that was found dead on the island of Molokai in September was intentionally killed with a gun, federal officials said Tuesday.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials said in a statement that the young female seal suffered a gunshot would to its head.
Hawaiian monk seal dies after battle with parasitic disease
November 22, 2021 GMTHONOLULU (AP) — A male Hawaiian monk seal has died at a Big Island marine mammal hospital after a five-week battle with toxoplasmosis, which is a parasitic disease spread by cat feces, officials said Monday.
Baby seal rescued from street in Northern California
November 1, 2021 GMTSAN RAFAEL, Calif. (AP) — A northern fur seal pup was recovering Monday at a marine life rehabilitation center where he is being fed fish smoothies after a harrowing weekend in San Rafael where he was almost hit by a car.
North Carolina Zoo announces deaths of ostrich, harbor seal
August 15, 2021 GMTASHEBORO, N.C. (AP) — Two longtime residents at the North Carolina Zoo -- an ostrich and a harbor seal -- have died.
An ostrich named Pearl was euthanized on Wednesday, zoo officials announced this weekend.
Animal rescuers ask residents to leave young seals alone
July 9, 2021 GMTBATH, Maine (AP) — A marine mammal rescue group in Maine is asking beachgoers to leave young seals alone after documenting numerous recent interactions between people and the animals.
Marine Mammals of Maine is a nonprofit group that responds to distressed sea mammals, such as seals and dolphins, as well as sea turtles.
Endangered monk seal mom with new pup needs space in Waikiki
May 13, 2021 GMTHONOLULU (AP) — Wildlife officials want people on a Waikiki beach to give an endangered newborn seal and its nursing mother lots of space.
Kaiwi, a Hawaiian monk seal mom and her pup, PO2, are nursing and bonding at Kaimana Beach, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Wednesday.
Man gets prison for killing California elephant seal
April 12, 2021 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — A man was sentenced Monday to three months in federal prison for shooting a protected northern elephant seal to death on the central California coast near San Simeon...
Cultural ‘big deal’: Seal oil makes menu at Alaska care home
February 16, 2021 GMTANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Seal oil has been a staple in the diet of Alaska’s Inupiat for generations...
Alaska search for 7 missing boaters indefinitely postponed
November 5, 2020 GMTBETHEL, Alaska (AP) — Searchers in western Alaska have indefinitely postponed their effort to find seven missing seal hunters...
Seal, whale response teams to get help for Maine effort
August 9, 2020 GMTBAR HARBOR, Maine (AP) — A pair of Maine institutions is receiving grants totaling nearly $200,000 to help with recovery efforts for stranded marine mammals.
Marine mammals such as whales and seals sometimes wash up on New England shores in need of assistance.
More seals means learning to live with sharks in New England
July 30, 2020 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) 1 ; Seals are thriving off the Northeast coast thanks to decades of protections, and that victory for wildlife has bro ght a conseq ence for h mans 1 ; more enco nters with sharks...
Isolated by oceans: Hawaii, other islands tamp down virus
May 4, 2020 GMTHONOLULU (AP) — Flying to a faraway beach might seem like the perfect way to escape a pandemic, but for isolated Pacific islands, controlling the coronavirus means cutting off tourism...
Aquarium seals must be wondering: Who’s that masked trainer?
April 13, 2020 GMTBOSTON (AP) — Humans can't always recognize each other in face masks, so imagine the confusion that wild animals in captivity must feel...
Home sweet volcano: Alaska fur seals thrive at unlikely spot
October 4, 2019 GMTANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Alaska’s northern fur seal population for three decades has been classified as depleted, but the marine mammals are showing up in growing numbers at an unlikely location: a tiny island that forms the tip of an active undersea volcano...
US biologists eye unusual deaths of Alaska ice seals
September 13, 2019 GMTANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Seals that rely on sea ice off Alaska's northwest coast have been dying at uncommon rates, and federal marine mammal biologists Thursday declared an "unusual mortality event...
Melted Alaska sea ice alarms coast residents, scientists
July 1, 2019 GMTANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Sea ice along northern Alaska disappeared far earlier than normal this spring, alarming coastal residents who rely on wildlife and fish...
Trump takes a step back from threat to close southern border
April 3, 2019 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump eased up on his threats to close the southern border as officials across his administration explored half-measures that might satisfy the president's urge for action, like stopping only foot traffic at certain crossings...
Seal takeovers, downed trees: Parks clean up post-shutdown
February 2, 2019 GMTSALT LAKE CITY (AP) — National park visitors cut new trails in sensitive soil. They pried open gates while no one was watching...
Elephant seals take over California beach during shutdown
January 31, 2019 GMTSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A colony of elephant seals took over a beach in Northern California during the government shutdown when there was no staff to discourage the animals from congregating in the popular tourist area, an official said...
Gecko butt-dials ‘bazillion’ times from Hawaii seal hospital
October 9, 2018 GMTHONOLULU (AP) — If you got incessant phone calls last week from a hospital that cares for Hawaiian monk seals, you were butt-dialed...
32-year-old seal named Peter euthanized at Virginia aquarium
September 26, 2018 GMTVIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) — A 32-year-old seal named Peter who lived at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center has died.
The Virginian-Pilot reports Peter's health had been in rapid decline, and he was euthanized Monday.
Alabama man fined for touching endangered Hawaiian monk seal
August 26, 2018 GMTLIHUE, Hawaii (AP) — An Alabama man was fined $1,500 for touching a Hawaiian monk seal as well as harassing a sea turtle on Kauai, and then posting the videos on social media.
Love and fire: Text of Michael Curry’s royal wedding address
May 19, 2018 GMTWINDSOR, England (AP) — And now in the name of our loving, liberating and life-giving God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit...
Climate change diet: Arctic sea ice thins, so do polar bears
February 1, 2018 GMTANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Some polar bears in the Arctic are shedding pounds during the time they should be beefing up, a new study shows...
TV picks for Jan. 31: ‘Animals With Cameras,’ ‘Step Up: High Water,’ ‘SEAL Team’
January 30, 2018 GMTMonkey business
Animals With Cameras isnt as much fun as David Lettermans experiments with a MonkeyCam, but dont tell that to wildlife photographer Gordon Buchanan, who is tickled pink to strap gear to chimpanzees, penguins and cheetahs for unique footage.
US science agency: Selfies with seal pups a no-no
May 26, 2017 GMTPROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — U.S. officials are warning people not to take selfies with seals, no matter how tempting...
Border wall could leave some Americans on ‘Mexican side’
April 16, 2017 GMTBROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) — The last time U.S. officials built a barrier along the border with Mexico, they left an opening at the small road leading south to Pamela Taylor's home on the banks of the Rio Grande...
RH92 frequented Lihi Canal in Kapaa
April 1, 2017 GMTKAPAA — A 10-month-old female Hawaiian monk seal was moved Friday from the Lihi canal in Kapaa to a beach on Kauai’s Westside.
RH92 had been frequenting the canal in recent weeks, likely attracted by discarded fish scraps.
Organizations offer $50K for info on monk seal deaths
March 11, 2017 GMTHONOLULU — Local and national non-profit and non-governmental organizations are offering $50,000 for information about the killings of five Hawaiian seals.
The February suspicious death of seal R4DP near Eleele on Kauai is making the matter even more urgent, according to the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Seal’s death suspicious, under investigation
March 6, 2017 GMTELEELE — An oft-spotted, 15-year-old endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal, known as R4DP was found dead on a beach near Eleele on Feb. 23.
Officers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Law Enforcement and from the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement are investigating the female seal’s death as suspicious, as it had injuries “inconsistent with any natural cause of death associated with wild monk seals.”
Akuna pleads no contest
February 23, 2017 GMTLIHUE — A man police say beat up a pregnant monk seal last year pleaded no contest on Wednesday.
Shylo Akuna appeared before Judge Kathleen Watanabe to change the not guilty plea he entered in May.
Endangered Hawaiian monk seal population rises to 1,400
January 25, 2017 GMTHONOLULU (AP) — The population of Hawaiian monk seals — one of the world's most critically endangered marine mammals — has been increasing 3 percent a year for the past three years, federal wildlife officials said.
Seal-Spotting Cruises offered by Norwalk Maritime Aquarium
January 12, 2017 GMTLooking for an animal adventure this winter?
The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk suggests its Seal-Spotting & Birding Cruises that are scheduled to run January through March.
“These invigorating 2½-hour outings take place aboard the aquarium’s R/V Spirit of the Sound, the country’s only research vessel with hybrid-electric propulsion,” said Dave Sigworth, aquarium spokesman.