Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Seal release on Thursday...but not in Charlestown

Mystic Aquarium breaks long-standing pattern and chooses a difference town to release rescued & rehabbed seals
Casseopeia
By Will Collette

Maybe Councilor Dan Slattery decided that Mystic Aquarium needed to pay a fee or CCA Party Treasurer Leo Mainelli complained that they would spoil his view, but Mystic Aquarium will release two female grey seals not at a Charlestown beach, but at the State Pier in Narragansett tomorrow morning, July 17 at 10 AM.

Mystic Aquarium is a great place and I love their Marine Mammal Rescue program that takes in injured animals from all over New England for medical treatment and rehabilitation. With rare exceptions, they then send the animals back into the wild from one of Charlestown's beachs - the last time was at Blue Shutters, but they sometimes use Town Beach or the state's beach at the Breachway.

Not this time.




Athena
Cassiopeia and Athena, both grey seal pups aged between 5 or 6 months, will be released from Monoahan's Dock at the State Pier in Narragansett.

Parking is extremely limited.

Here are the directions if you are coming from south of Narragansett:

Take I-95N to Exit 92

Turn right off of Exit 92 onto CT-2 East.

Turn right onto Route 78 (Veteran’s Way)

Turn left onto Route 1 in Westerly and follow it for 19miles

Take the Narragansett/Point Judith Exit onto Woodruff Avenue

Follow this road over Route 108 where it will become S. Pier Road

Follow South Pier Road to the end and turn Right onto Ocean Road

Monahan’s Dock (aka State Pier No. 5) in Narragansett, RI will be ~50 yds down the road, on the left.


About Mystic Aquarium’s Animal Rescue Program

Mystic Aquarium’s Animal Rescue Program supports animals in need and educates the public about the marine environment and its inhabitants. The public is encouraged to call the aquarium’s 24-hour hotline at 860.572.5955 ext. 107 if they encounter a marine mammal or sea turtle in Conn., R.I. or Fishers Island, N.Y.

Mystic Aquarium is a founding member of the Northeast Region Stranding Network. This network in comprised of organizations along the eastern sea coast which have facilities and trained staff to care for sick and injured animals. Marine Mammals are protected species, so only groups and facilities authorized by the National Marine Fisheries Service are permitted to handle these animals.

About Mystic Aquarium

Mystic Aquarium is a division of Sea Research Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, and is counted among the nation’s leading aquariums with more than 300 species and an extensive collection of marine mammals, including New England’s only beluga whales.

Mystic Aquarium has been a pioneer in offering guests a variety of up close encounters with a wide range of marine animals. The mission of Sea Research is to inspire people to care for and protect our ocean planet through education, research and exploration.

Sea Research receives major support from United Technologies Corporation, The Coca-Cola Company and Foxwoods Resort Casino. Learn more at mysticaquarium.org or searesearch.org.