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About Seaside signal. (Seaside, Or.) 1905-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 19, 2016)
February 19, 2016 Seaside Signal seasidesignal.com 7A Talking stranded whales and sea lions with PSU professor Close encounters of the marine mammal kind By Lyra Fontaine EO Media Group The humpback whale stranded in Seaside in January may have become entangled or struck by a boat, according to Dr. Debbie Duf¿eld. More than 30 people gath- ered for an engaging lecture, “Marine Mammals, the Ma- rine Mammal Stranding Net- work and Marine Reserves,” on Wednesday, Feb. 10, at the Cannon Beach Library. The topic was particularly timely. In the past few weeks, a humpback whale washed ashore in Seaside, and a har- bor porpoise and two striped dolphins were found on the North Coast. Experts are still waiting on necropsy results for the whale to see whether it was infected or if it had an accident. The humpback has bruis- ing that could have been from entanglement or a boat strike, Duf¿eld said. It also carried a fairly heavy parasite load for a whale not more than two years old. The presentation — a part- nership between Duf¿eld, Portland State University bi- ology professor, and Keith Chandler, Seaside Aquarium general manager — was part of Haystack Rock Awareness Program’s lecture series. The Oregon Marine Mam- mal Stranding Network, which Duf¿eld and Chandler be- long to, responds to mammal strandings from Tillamook to Long Beach, Washington. They see 149 stranded animals per year on average. The most common animals include Cal- ifornia sea lions, harbor seals and Steller sea lions. Strandings allow research- ers to evaluate otherwise in- accessible animals, and nec- ropsies tell scientists vital physiological and biological information. Marine mam- mals’ tissues are sampled and used for studies on ocean pol- lution, biotoxins and other en- vironmental changes. Once they evaluate a stranded animal, researchers take samples back to the uni- versity to study it in a con- trolled area and test for in- fections. After they ¿nish the necropsies, they might prepare the bones for students to artic- ulate. LYRA FONTAINE PHOTO/EO MEDIA GROUP Seaside Aquarium employees Mollie Schmidt and Tifany Boothe with Dr. Debbie Duffield and aquarium general manager Keith Chandler. “Every once in awhile we have species that, because of their charismatic value, are of great interest to everybody,” Duf¿eld said. For example, a killer whale was stranded in Long Beach several years ago, drawing veterinaries, researchers and onlookers alike. Duf¿eld also recalls when a Baird’s beaked whale came in live in Seaside during a vol- leyball tournament. “Luckily, people weren’t around it when it started to die and thrash, because it could have killed somebody,” she said. Why do these animals ap- pear on shores? Seals, sea li- ons, whales, dolphins and por- poises are primarily stranded due to human interaction, such as gunshots, ¿sheries inter- action and net entanglement. Bacterial disease, cancer and infections also cause strand- ings. Sometimes the human-re- lated interactions are extreme. Duf¿eld displayed a jarring photo of a California sea lion that had part of its face de- stroyed by an explosive de- vice. She also showed a picture of plastics and debris on the Seaside beach. Sea lions get entangled in plastic bands, but since they bite, it’s dif¿cult for humans to help them re- move bands and recover from wounds. In 2010, a dead whale stranded on Puget Sound beach had 50 gallons of material in stomach that was mostly algae ‘It’s easy to feed and rescue the pups but what do you do with them next? Let them go out into the same area they couldn’t get food out in the first place?’ Debbie Duield, Biology professor, Portland State University but also human debris such as sweatpants, plastic bags, duct tape and towels. The Oregon Marine Mam- mal Stranding Network works to improve treatment and dis- entangle marine mammals from debris and ¿shery gear. Duf¿eld said that the ani- mals are resilient. Seals and sea lions often carry worms in their stomach that can form ulcers. “They just live with that. Their parasite loads are tremendous.” The strandings may also point to larger forces at work. The El Nino climate pattern that’s increasing coastal tem- peratures, along with the warm “blob” of water in the north Paci¿c Ocean, affect the ani- mals’ prey. “We’re at the apex of these changes that we can actual- ly follow annually,” Duf¿eld said. “It’s a fascinating change that we’re living through.” Last year, in California, increasing water tempera- tures affected sea lions and their pups in California. The animals normally feed on an- chovies and sardines, which disappeared to another loca- tion due to warming water. The remaining ¿sh may not have had adequate nutrition, leading females to leave their pups earlier, which resulted in more than 2,000 young sea lions starving on California beaches. Rehabilitating the animals raises a question, Duf¿eld said. “It’s easy to feed and res- cue the pups but what do you do with them next? Let them go out into the same area they couldn’t get food out in the ¿rst place?” Several in the crowd asked why we don’t let nature dic- tate the animals’ lives. Rehabilitation efforts have been in California, while the Northwest does not rehabili- tate seals and sea lions, Duff- ield responded. Oregon state policy aims to minimize dis- turbance from humans and let nature take its course. However, in cases like As- toria, sea lions are crowding ports, perhaps drawn to food like smelt ¿sh in the Colum- bia River. “We’ve gone from having a few sea lions to having a lot ... from 100 or 200 sea lions to over 2,000 last year,” she said as the crowd murmured in agreement. “It will be inter- esting to see if their numbers get quite as high this year, and they should.” Images of nature from Janet Bland SUBMITTED PHOTO/SEASIDE SIGNAL Paintings by Janet Bland are on exhibit at the Seaside Pub- lic Library. The Seaside Public Library is exhibiting work by local artist Janet Bland through Feb. 29. The title of the show is “Presence” and the art will hang in the Community Room and the foyer. On the north coast of Or- egon, just south of the Co- lumbia River, Bland paints and draws. Her work features the beautiful and lush coastal landscape of the area. Bland’s work is a personal response to nature and to the experience of painting. She emphasizes color, gesture and the tactile qualities of paint. Her paint- ing encourages looking at ourselves and at our surround- ings. Bland is a graduate of Stanford University and has studied in California, Oregon, and at the New York Studio School. Her work is in collec- tions in the United States and Canada. She is represented by the Cannon Beach Gallery and the Rental Sales Gallery of the Portland Art Museum. The Seaside Public Library is located at 1131 Broadway. For more information call 503-738-6742 or visit sea- sidelibrary.org. Join the ‘Better Breather’s Club’ at Providence Seaside Providence Seaside Hos- pital, in conjunction with the American Lung Association, is offering a monthly Bet- ter Breathers Club to senior members of the community who have dif¿culty breathing. Attendees will meet in the ed- ucation center of the hospital from 1:30 to 3 p.m. There is no charge to attend, but regis- tration is encouraged. These sessions will provide an opportunity to learn ways to cope with COPD, asthma, pulmonary ¿brosis and other respiratory issues while get- ting the support of others who share the same struggles. The Better Breathers Club’s monthly meetings will feature educational presenta- tions on a variety of relevant topics including breathing techniques, exercise, medica- tions, home healthcare, lung transplants, pollution, smok- ing and more. Caregivers are also welcome to attend all meetings. Monthly meetings for 2016 will be held March 10, April 14, May 12, June 9, July 14, Aug. 11, Sept. 8, Oct. 13, Nov. 10 and Dec. 8. To register for one or more sessions, call 800-562-8964. Providence Seaside Hospital is located at 725 S. Wahanna Road. Montero leaves SDDA Montero from Page 1A “She put a lot of time into this. We just feel it’s only fair that we allow her to gain some of that time back in the next couple of week,” Swenson said. “When she came to us with this, it was easy enough for us to say, ‘Let us make it easy for you. You’ve done so many things for us.’” Swenson said Montero “still has that commitment to Seaside and SDDA and all of the other things she does.” During her year as execu- tive director, Montero helped make the Hot Rod Classic Charity Golf Tournament and Auction Dinner in September a big success for the associa- tion. “She left us in a great posi- tion,” Swenson said. “She es- tablished building blocks that will make it a very successful year for SDDA.” Keith Chandler, the board treasurer, agreed. “We’ll be ¿ne,” he said. “Everything works out.” The association is work- ing on its downtown walking maps and planning for the upcoming Spring Wine Walk in May. This year, the associ- ation plans to bring back its Halloween Happenins event. When searching for a re- placement, Chandler said, the board is seeking “someone who has a lot of time” and “someone who can network with businesses well.” Mespelt, who now coordi- nates the association’s two car shows, also offered to help during the transition, along with several other community members, Swenson said. “It’s been a great commu- nity, to wrap its arms around us and say, ‘If you need help, we’re there for you,’” she said. DINING on the NORTH COAST Great Restaurants in: GEARHART SEASIDE CANNON BEACH Excellence in family dining found from a family that has been serving the North Coast for the past 52 years Great Great Great Homemade Breakfast, lunch and pasta, Clam but that’s dinner steaks & Chowder, not all... menu,too! seafood! Salads! Seaside • 323 Broadway • 738-7234 (Open 7 Days) Cannon Beach • 223 S. Hemlock 436-2851 (7am-3pm Daily) Astoria • 146 W. Bond • 325-3144 Discover Patty’s Wicker Cafe on the Beautiful Necanicum River BREAKFAST & LUNCH MONDAY thru FRIDAY 6AM to 2PM Great Atmosphere • Great Food • Great Prices 600 Broadway Suite 7 & 8 • 503.717.1272 WANNA KNOW WHERE THE LOCALS GO? • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner • Lighter appetite menu • Junior Something for Everyone menu Fish ‘n Chips • Burgers • Seafood & Steak Friday & Saturday - Prime Rib Lounge Open Daily 9-Midnight All Oregon Lottery products available BEST BREAKFAST IN TOWN! 1104 S Holladay • 503-738-9701 • Open Daily at 8am MAZATLAN M E X I C A N R E S TA U R A N T PUBLIC MEETINGS Monday, Feb. 22 Seaside City Council, 7 p.m., City Hall, 989 Broadway. Tuesday, March 1 Seaside Community Center Commission, 10 a.m., 1225 Avenue A. Seaside Library Board, 4:30 p.m., at the library, 1131 Broad- way. Broadway. Gearhart City Council, 7 p.m., City Hall, 698 Pacific Way. Thursday, March 3 Seaside Parks Advisory Com- mittee, 7 p.m., City Hall, 989 Broadway. Thursday, March 10 Monday, March 14 Thursday, March 22 Seaside City Council, 7 p.m., City Hall, 989 Broadway. Seaside Airport Committee, 6 p.m., City Hall, 989 Broadway. Tuesday, March 15 Monday, March 28 Seaside School District, 6 p.m., 1801 S. Franklin St. Seaside City Council, 7 p.m., City Hall, 989 Broadway. Wednesday, March 16 Tuesday, April 5 Sunset Empire Parks and Rec District, 5 p.m., 1225 Ave. A, Seaside. Seaside Planning Commis- sion, 7 p.m., City Hall, 989 Broadway. Seaside Planning Commis- sion, 7 p.m., City Hall, 989 Broadway. Seaside Convention Center Commission, 5 p.m., 1225 Avenue A. Thursday, March 17 Wednesday, April 6 Seaside Tree Board, 4 p.m., City Hall, 989 Broadway. Wednesday, March 2 Gearhart Planning Com- mission, 6 p.m., City Hall, 698 Pacific Way. Seaside Transportation Advi- sory Commission, 6 p.m., City Hall, 989 Broadway. Seaside Improvement Com- mission, 7 p.m., City Hall, 989 Broadway. Seaside Improvement Com- mission, 7 p.m., City Hall, 989 Gearhart City Council, 7 p.m., City Hall, 698 Pacific Way. Phone 503-738-9678 1445 S. Roosevelt Drive • Seaside NATIONALLY FAMOUS CLAM CHOWDER • FRESH OREGON SEAFOOD R E STAU R A N T S CANNON BEACH 503-436-1111 Ocean Front at Tolovana Park www.moschowder.com