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."

December 30th 2007: Thornwick Bay, Flamborough : seal pup harassed by dogs. Very small and thin, coughing, sneezing and shivering plus dog bites on head and face. Taken to Swanbridge for treatment before both pups (see below) transferred to East Winch.
December 30th 2007: Spurn Point : injured seal pup found by Medics out beachcombing! Taken to Swanbridge vets then on to East Winch.
December 30th 2007: Skipsea : seal reported by MOP but had returned to sea of its own accord by the time Medics arrived.
December 30th 2007: Hornsea : seal reported on road: when medics arrived it had moved and was now leaning against the wall of the Amusement Arcade! Underweight and had a deep flesh wound on its back so taken to vet's (arrived at Swanbridge at 1 a.m.!) then relayed to East Winch next day.
December 19th 2007:: Ulrome : very young (just moulted) male Grey seal pup harassed by public trying to "put it back where it belongs" (i.e. the sea) : injured from flipper and pock or bite marks on its body, shivering and coughing. Taken to Swanzdale for treatment and overnight stay with planned transfer to East Winch the following day; proved not possible as no room so space was found at Stapley Grange Wildlife Hospital, Cheshire and the seal was relayed there via Swanbridge.
December 19th 2007: Cumbria : call to assist with two stranded dolphins - our pontoons needed so Dean set off for the north west; when only 60 miles away he was called and told they'd decided to try a refloat without them and both dolphins had been successfully refloated.
December 18th 2007: Hornsea : underweight and unresponsive Grey seal pup on the beach. Only available facility was Hastings, in the Deep South! so major relay undertaken and pup arrived safely.
December 16th 2007: Bridlington : moulting whitecoat Grey seal pup, old wounds visible on back, underweight and dehydrated. Taken to Swanbridge vet's then relayed to East Winch.
December 14th / 15th (overnighter!) 2007: Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire : seal pup found and reported by Police, underweight and unresponsive and with suspect left flipper injury. Uplifted at 11.30 p.m. and taken back across the river to Swanbridge vet's for treatment and overnight stay then back down to East Winch.
December 5th 2007: Flamborough : seal pup at North Landing, underweight, flat and unresponsive. Taken to Swanbridge vets then relayed on to East Winch.
December 2nd 2007: Whitby : whitecoat Grey Seal pup at Sands end; inflamed umbilicus, underweight, flat and hypothermic. Taken to Swanzdale vets at Scarborough then relayed down to East Winch.
November 16th 2007: Reighton Sands : Grey Seal pup - report awaited but photos here
November 11th 2007: between Fraisthorpe & Barmston : male common seal pup, underweight with numerous minor injuries - taken to Scarborough Sea Life Centre. (Pictures here)

November 1st 2007: Humber Estuary : large whale confirmed dead and beached on the south bank of the Humber at Barrow. Eventually identified as a Fin Whale. Click here for photos.
October 29th 2007: Humber Estuary : report of whale "blowing" in river near New Holland - report of Chris Lowes' search by clicking underlined date.
October 26th 2007: Paull, Humber Estuary : female Common seal pup at Paull shipyard. Fat and healthy but in dangerous situation so relocated and released at Spurn Point after assessment and treatment for minor wound at Haven Vets in Hedon. Full report by clicking underlined date, and more photos can be seen here.
October 8th 2007: Holmpton, near Withernsea : Common seal pup, injuries to mouth and coughing, taken to Swanbridge vets for assessment and treatments but died overnight.
August 29th 2007: Hunmanby Gap : male pup entangled in netting with deep wounds to shoulders and high temp (40°). Assessed and initial treatment by Swanzdale Veterinary Centre in Scarborough then transported on to East Winch, via Swanbridge Veterinary Hospital for more fluids.
August 12th 2007 : Withernsea : two pups, one dead and decomposing and a female Common, underweight and listless. Taken to Swanbridge for tubing then on to East Winch together with the seal from Whitby. For a photo of Joel with the surviving pup, click here.
August 7th - 11th 2007: Whitby : seal pup had been seen over several days being harassed by public so uplifted for its own safety and taken to Swanbridge vets then on to East Winch.
2nd August 2007 : Mappleton : male common seal pup found by one of the vets from Swanbridge, the practice that deals with all our seals, who took it in. Transported later the same day to RSPCA Wildlife Hospital East Winch - full report by clicking underlined date, photo here.
2nd August 2007 : Barmston : female common seal pup entangled in fishing net; irate fisherman informed medics he had the right to shoot the pup so medics and MOP who had made the initial call disentangled the pup, who was thankfully uninjured, and moved it to a quiet beach well away from the fisherman with the gun! The pup was assessed then released and made its way back to the sea.

27th July 2007 : Primrose Valley / Hunmanby Gap : common seal pup reported by MOP as "looking ill" on busy beach, on arrival had already been returned to the sea by well-meaning onlooker to get it away from children prodding it with a stick; pup seen swimming towards Hunmanby Gap where it hauled out again and on arrival there to check it, the pup was fast asleep! Mum seen offshore but afraid to haul out because of crowds; pup eventually returned to the sea (and hopefully Mum) of its own accord; check the following day showed no sign of either. (For photos of the seal click here.)
4th July 2007 : Hunmanby Gap : grey seal pup, observed for about an hour and returned to sea of own accord.
17th June 2007 : Reighton Sands : grey seal pup - believed to be the same one as on 9th June - hauled out and resting, went back into the sea and swam off towards Bempton.
9th June 2007 : Reighton Sands : grey seal pup, did not need assistance so was observed for a while until it returned t0 the sea of its own accord.
May 28th 2007 : Hunmanby Gap : report of a stranded whale and two guillemots. 'Whale' identified as dead neonate porpoise; 'guillemots' were gannets, entangled in fishing line but one still alive. Survivor freed and released.
April 2007 : Barton-on-Humber : report of two dolphins washed up, presumed dead. Identified as harbour porpoises - well dead and decomposing.
April 22nd 2007 : Easington : Grey Seal pup (male) : appeared fat and healthy so left overnight : following day still there and less alert so captured and taken to Scarborough Sea Life Centre : good body condition but has worms so needed treatment before release.
April 11th 2007 : Holmpton : fat and feisty seal pup but reported to be injured by M.O.P : no sign of injury or illness so monitored, returned to sea of own accord.
March 22nd 2007 : Sewerby : Grey Seal pup : thin and underweight. Taken to Swanbridge vets for assessment and treatment then transported to RSPCA Wildlife Hospital East Winch.
Mar 11th 2007 : Spurn Point/ Kilnsea : 2 seals : 1 returned to sea of its own accord, the other (male) thin and coughing : taken to Scarborough Sea Life Centre.
Feb 25th 2007 : Flamborough : Grey Seal pup (female) : weighed in at 28kgs but breathing rapid and continuous; abscess and other injuries (dog bites?) : taken to Scarborough Sea Life Centre.
Feb 18th 2007 : Whitby : seal pup : (call between seals 1 and 2 at Bridlington!) : reported by M.O.P. as injured; no sign of it so presumably not injured and returned to sea of its own accord.
Feb 18th 2007 : Bridlington : 1) Grey Seal (male) : fat, healthy but disturbed by people and dogs - relocated to Fraisthorpe. 2) healthy seal monitored and returned to seal of its own accord.
Feb 17th 2007 : Victoria Dock, Hull : Grey seal pup (female) : fat and healthy but in very unsuitable location - rescued and relocated to Spurn.
Feb 16th 2007 : Easington : seal reported by M.O.P. monitored, returned to sea of own accord.
Feb 15th 2007 : Easington/River Humber : harbour porpoise stranded alive on mudflats on retreating tide : refloat attempted but animal died. PM showed numerous old injuries.
Feb 4th 2007 : Flamborough : seal pup underweight, injured and abscessed. Taken to Swanbridge vets for assessment and treatment then transported to Scarborough Sea Life Centre.
Feb 2nd 2007 : Bridlington : Grey seal pup (female) : thin (14kg) and flat, slight temperature. Taken to Swanbridge vets for assessment and kept overnight for stabilisation then transported to RSPCA Wildlife Hospital East Winch .
Jan 28th 2007 : Bridlington : seal pup very thin and flat. Taken to Swanbridge vets for assessment and stabilisation then transported to RSPCA Wildlife Hospital East Winch .
Jan 22nd 2007 : Hornsea : two Grey Seal pups and a Puffin (honestly!) : seal #1 left while seal #2 was rescued (head injuries and in dangerous location) then beached puffin found when returning for seal #1; seal #2 and puffin taken to Scarborough Sea Life Centre; seal #1 monitored then picked up following day for transport to East Winch.
Jan 21st 2007 : Easington : reported by M.O.P. monitored, returned to sea of own accord.
Jan 13th 2007 : Filey : Grey seal pup (female) : underweight and large abscess on back. Taken to Scarborough Sea Life Centre.
Dec 17th 2006 : Humber Estuary : Sei whale washed up dead; decomposing and probably washed up from further south.
Dec 10th 2006 : Bridlington : Grey Seal pup (female) : underweight and wheezing. Taken to Scarborough Sea Life Centre.
Dec 10th 2006 : Filey : Grey Seal pup (male) : underweight (13kg) comatose and hypothermic (off the thermometer.) Rushed to Scarborough Sea Life Centre for immediate treatment; failed to respond overnight due to extreme hypothermia and euthanised the following morning.
Sept 22nd 2006 : King George Dock, Hull : Humpback whale trapped behind jetty on falling tide. Sadly, despite all our efforts for six hours the whale died. Full report by clicking on underlined date.
Sept 16th 2006 : Tunstall : Common Seal pup (female) : underweight (11.5kg) coughing and sneezing with elevated temperature. Assessed by vet and transported immediately to Scarborough Sea Life Centre; DOA.
Sept 15th 2006 : Withernsea : Harbour porpoise reported stranded on the beach ; MMMs arrived to be told that it had been "helped" back into the sea.
Aug 20th 2006 : Easington : Common Seal pup (female) - very underweight (10kg) and weak but otherwise no obvious illness or injury. Assessed by vet and transported following day to RSPCA Wildlife Hospital East Winch .
Aug 13th 2006 : Tunstall : Common Seal pup (female)- underweight (11kg) and 'flat' with coughing and sneezing. Assessed by vet and transported following day to RSPCA Wildlife Hospital East Winch .
Aug 1st 2006 : Bridlington : Common Seal pup : thin, dehydrated with minor cuts and lacerations plus gum infection; taken to Scarborough Sea Life Centre.
June 17th 2006 : Bridlington : Harbour porpoise : call-out immediately after MMM training day so plenty of medics on hand, animal was reported to be 'alive and moving around at the water's edge' : turned out to be VERY dead and being rolled around by the movement of the water.
May 11th 2006 : Hornsea : Grey Seal pup sunbathing, minor wound to rear flipper : caught and treated then released, returned to sea of its own accord.
May 6th 2006 : Tunstall : Grey Seal pup : very lethargic, lump on side weeping pus : taken to Swanbridge for assessment and kept overnight for transport to east Winch but died during the night, PM revealed huge abscess.
April 12th 2006 : Skeffling : Common Seal pup, injured and with ulcerated eye : taken to Swanbridge vets for assessment and stabilisation then transported to RSPCA Wildlife Hospital East Winch .
March 21st 2006 : Hornsea : seal had reportedly been on beach for 3 days before being reported : returned to sea of its own accord before it could be assessed.
March 18th 2006 : Ravenscar : Grey Seal pup trapped in monofilament netting - injured neck and laboured breathing : assessed at Scarborough Sea Life Centre but their seal hospital full so stabilised and transported to RSPCA Wildlife Hospital East Winch .
March 11th 2006 : Ulrome : Grey Seal (female) seal : appeared healthy so monitored for 72 hours; reports then came in that seal was injured so it was captured and taken to RSPCA Hospital at East Winch where it was found to have severe head injuries and had to be euthanised : the injuries appeared to have been caused deliberately.
Feb 20th 2006 : Reighton Gap : Grey Seal pup : reported as injured by M.O.P : examination showed old injury already healing so released back into sea.
Feb 4th 2006 : Spurn Point : mature Sperm Whale stranded 1 mile out on mudflats on falling tide. Alive when stranded but died shortly after. Full report on clicking underlined date.
Feb 1st 2006 : Kilnsea : Grey Seal pup (male) - good weight but lesions on flippers; coughing and wheezing - assessed by vet and transported to RSPCA Wildlife Hospital East Winch.