‘Every animal counts’: HCT Winter Talk dives into marine animal strandings

“Krill” knows how to thrill, and she delivered a spectacular Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT) Winter Talk at Monomoy Regional High School.

About 150 people gathered to hear marine biologist Carol “Krill” Carson, founder and President of the New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance (NECWA) present “Saving Marine Misfits on Cape Cod,” a fun and informative program about the annual strandings of unusual-looking species on Cape Cod shores. These include ocean sunfish, Atlantic torpedo rays and basking sharks.

NECWA is a volunteer-driven nonprofit organization that combines educational outreach with research and conservation activities to protect and rescue marine wildlife in the coastal waters of New England.

The perils of Cape Cod Bay

“Strandings can happen at any time of the year, but most of the strandings occur in the fall and early winter,” said Carson.

That’s when many fish in our region head south for warmer waters. Going around Cape Cod to the east provides the smoothest passage, but if the animals enter Cape Cod Bay, trouble awaits.

“It’s not a very easy place to navigate out of,” said Carson. Once the fish get to the Barnstable/Dennis area, they sometimes try to travel north along the shoreline, running into perils that include the sprawling low-tide flats of Brewster and Orleans, the hook of Wellfleet Harbor (the biggest hotspot) and the curved contour of Long Point in Provincetown.

These navigational challenges can be exacerbated by wind, currents and colder temperatures. “If they stay too long in our waters, they can become cold-shocked or cold-stunned,” said Carson.

Carson started NECWA in 2005, as a sighting network for ocean sunfish and basking sharks. The focus wasn’t on strandings, but that changed quickly. “In 2008, I started getting phone calls in the fall: ‘I have a stranded ocean sunfish on my beach, what do I do?'” recalled Carson, who thought, “I don’t know, I’m a whale biologist.”

She learned on the fly, because the reports of ocean sunfish strandings kept coming. “Every year, we respond to ocean sunfish that are stranded. Our motto is every animal counts ” All sightings are documented, and if the animal is found dead, a necropsy is sometimes performed.

Volunteers needed

Carson’s presentation included thrilling photos and videos of ocean sunfish rescues. She said most of the animals found stranded were juveniles, weighing in at about 600 pounds. “It’s easy to move an ocean sunfish, as long as you have some water under there,” said Carson.

Over the years, NECWA has improved their rescue techniques, which can include straps, hoops and floating pads. Sometimes, rescuers are able to successfully push or tow an ocean sunfish to deeper water relatively easily, other times the fish may be towed by a boat for a considerable distance.

NECWA volunteers who walk the beaches provide essential and timely information about possible strandings. “It’s very important that people are there to act,” said Carson. “The immediacy is so critical in terms of how successful a rescue is.”

The interactive program also included a fascinating display of biological artifacts, including ocean sunfish bones, as well as NECWA contact information. Attendees were encouraged to consider volunteering for NECWA or other groups that help stranded fish and turtles on Cape Cod.

“Spread the word,” said Carson. “These organizations need your help. And a lot of research has shown, not only are you helping them, but we all feel much better — we feel good about ourselves — when we do something nice for someone else, whether it has fins, feet or flippers.”

For more information about NECWA’s work and volunteer opportunities, visit necwa.org.

To report a stranded animal (dead or alive), call the NECWA hotline at 508-566-0009.

HCT’s Winter Talks series continues in February with two more great programs:

Saturday, February 7th, 1 to 2 p.m.

Shellfish and Herring and Water Quality, Oh My!
Adventures with the Harwich Natural Resources Department
Presenter: Stephanie Ridenour
Location: 204 Cultural Center auditorium (204 Sisson Road, Harwich)

How do hundreds of thousands of baby shellfish make it from the Harwich Shellfish Lab into local waters each year? Join Harwich’s Director of Natural Resources Stephanie Ridenour for an exploration into the science and strategy of shellfish propagation, the hurdles of herring runs, and the world of water quality. Learn more about how the town protects, preserves, and enhances Harwich’s wonderful natural resources. We’ll also discuss how many of our community members support these initiatives and how you can too!

Saturday, February 28th, 1 to 2 p.m.

A Cape-friendly Landscape: Discovering the Nature Connection
Presenter: Kristin Andres
Location: 204 Cultural Center Auditorium (204 Sisson Road, Harwich)

Gardens and yards offer exciting opportunities to support nature, right outside your own door! Find out how plant choices and lawn care practices can make a big difference for local pollinators, birds, and butterflies. Join Kristin Andres, Director of Education & Outreach for the Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC), the Cape’s leading science-based environmental advocacy nonprofit, and learn how our landscapes and gardens play a vital role in the health of the Cape’s environment. Wildlife will appreciate your thoughtful approach, and you’ll love the beautiful results — use your green thumb to be a good steward!

—Sign up for HCT eNews, a great way to stay in the loop about exciting HCT events, guided walks and other interesting news.

—Your tax-deductible contributions help fulfill the mission of the Harwich Conservation Trust to preserve land that protects woods, water, wildlife and our shared quality of life. And your land-saving financial support helps us preserve beautiful properties that can become stellar trail destinations. Find out how to donate by clicking here.