BDMLR Rescue Diary - North and East Yorkshire

BDMLR Marine Mammal Medics are a hard-working group of dedicated volunteers who put in a lot of time and effort in helping sick and injured seals and stranded whales, dolphins and porpoises. Here is a diary of rescues in the Yorkshire and Humber region : ( most recent first.)

Dates which are underlined will show fuller details and/or photos - click to open. Other reports on the BDMLR website under "news."

March 18th 2009 : Dane's Dyke, Flamborough : Grey seal pup, lethargic, underweight with bite marks - taken to Swanbridge for assessment then East Winch for treatment.
March 10th 2009 : Filey Brigg : Grey seal pup, injured and bleeding, relayed to Swanbridge vets then East Winch. Responding well to treatment.
February 27th 2009 : Cayton Bay : stranded seal pup (no species ID) relayed to East Winch.
January 30th 2009 : Grimsby Docks : call to seal in dock : turned out to be large bull seal, a regular at the dock, who did not need help.
January 17th 2009 : Kilnsea : whitecoat seal pup - monitored for 2 days for signs of his mum but eventually picked up and relayed to East Winch.
January 6th 2009 : Filey Beach : large grey seal pup, good weight and alert but dragging one flipper. Taken to Scarborough Sea Life Centre seal hospital for treatment.
January 1st 2009 : a busy new year's day! Three seals, two at Flamborough and one at Hornsea. The first Flamborough seal and the one at Hornsea needed help, Flamborough seal taken to Scarborough Sea Life and Hornsea seal relayed to East Winch. The remaining seal was fat and feisty and encouraged to go back home!
December 12th 2008 : Reighton Gap : sick and injured seal pup overnighted at Scarborough Sea Life Centre then relayed on to East Winch for further treatment.
December 8th 2008 : Runswick Bay : very small female seal pup, dehydrated, lethargic and with a runny nose : taken to Scarborough Sea Life Centre then relayed on to East Winch the next day for further treatment.
November 17th 2008 : Bridlington : healthy common seal pup but right in the middle of dog-walking territory! Relocated to quieter beach nearby and released.
November 5th 2008: Hunmanby : seal pup reported to be on beach but dogs kept chasing it back into the sea so medics unable to assess condition and whether it needed medical attention.
August 18th 2008 : Primrose Valley : sick Grey seal pup being harassed by the public and dogs, one man even threw it back into the sea, eventually rescued and taken to Scarborough Sea Life Centre for treatment.
August 11th 2008 : Skipsea : very sick common seal pup taken to Swanbridge vets but despite the best efforts of medics and vets, died later that evening.
August 2nd 2008 : two seals, one undernourished with injured flipper at Ulrome and another at Bridlington, this time with swollen mouth. Both taken to Scarborough Sea Life Centre.
July 29th 2008 : Mappleton : very small and weak Common seal pup with blood and mucus around mouth and laboured breathing. Transported to Swanbridge but died en route.
July 29th 2008 : Gristhorpe : underweight and very poorly common seal pup with fish hook in her side; taken to Scarborough Sea Life Centre for treatment but died during the night.
July 18th 2008 : Bridlington : small common seal pup, underweight and with abscessed mouth. Taken to Scarborough Sea Life Centre for treatment.
May 27th 2008 : Scarborough : seal trapped and entangled in plastic strapping of the type used to bind parcels and boxes - it was cutting into the blubber of its neck and both front flippers. Medics cut it free and removed all plastic and it couldn't get back into the sea fast enough!
April 16th 2008 : Bridlington : two seals, one near the Spa with only superficial wounds on back so encouraged to go back into the sea where it would be much safer; second seal a female grey pup on the mud banks of the harbour - relocated to a more suitable part of the beach.
April 5th 2008 : Flamborough : seal pup, small, underweight and bleeding but still feisty - taken to Priory Vets in Bridlington for treatment before going to East Winch.
March 24th 2008 : Filey Brigg : two seal pups - one kept under observation until it went back into the sea of its own accord, the second small and listless, taken to Swanzdale vets then East Winch via Hull.
March 6th 2008 : Wilsthorpe : Grey seal pup, listless with runny nose and sneezing plus some hair loss. Taken to Swanbridge vets then relayed to East Winch.
March 2nd 2008 : Reighton : very sick male Grey seal pup with badly infected wound. Taken to Swanzdale vets in Scarborough where vets advised euthanasia.
February 28th 2008 : Filey : large and aggressive grey seal pup reported as being in the same place for at least two days. Some scarring and marking, with bloody faeces and atypical behaviour. Taken to Swanzdale vets, Scarborough. The pup weighed 28kgs but was presenting with some distressing behaviour. After tests and consultation with BDMLR vets, decision was taken for euthanasia and sent for post mortem.
February 27th 2008 : Filey : underweight juvenile male Grey seal with nasty cough, taken to Swanzdale vets then transported down to Swanbridge vets, Hull then on to East Winch.
February 24th 2008 : Filey : seal attacked by dogs - one of last year's pups so good size but bites needed treatment. Taken to Swanzdale vets in Scarborough for initial treatment then on to Swanbridge and finally East Winch in relays.
January 23rd 2008 : Flamborough : report of seal pup at Flamborough; while veterinary treatment and relay (if needed) was being arranged, the pup decided to go back into the water!
January 13th 2008 : Spurn Point : pup with injured eye : picked up and relayed direct to East Winch via Sleaford. Expected to make a full recovery.
January 8th 2008 : Spurn Point : Common seal pup attacked and injured by dogs, poor condition and apparently in shock : taken to Swanbridge vets for treatment. X-rays showed lung degeneration indicative of chronic condition; pup died and PM showed lung and stomach worms plus internal bleeding from dog attack. Further pathology results awaited.
January 4th 2008 : Filey : pup on slipway, relocated and released.
January 4th 2008 : Bridlington Harbour : Grey seal pup with injuries to rear flippers, granulating but swollen and infected; also pus and blood coming from mouth. Taken to Swanbridge for treatment where examination revealed necrotic bone and two teeth hanging from tissue in mouth. Pup treated and prepared for transfer but East Winch was full so had to be shipped to Stapley Grange Wildlife Hospital, Cheshire!