Good Luck Timbo

By Doug Geed

   Timbo got into a scuffle with a shark in Massachusetts. He got the worst of it -- lots of scrapes and cuts along his side -- plus a broken jaw. That's usually what happens when a gray seal comes up against a shark.

   When Timbo was found, he was pretty listless from all his injuries and all of the rehab centers in New England for sea mammals were filled. Luckily for Timbo, the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation had an opening.

    For those of you who haven't heard of it, the Riverhead Foundation is the only facility in New York State licensed to rescue and rehabilitate seals, sea turtles and dolphins (yes, all of them are swimming around in our local waterways.)

   Timbo came in (after catching a ride aboard the Cross Sound Ferry from Connecticut to Orient) in July and was just re-released the other day in Shinnecock Bay in Hampton Bays. I'm doing a story on it in my East End segments that will air next Sunday and Monday, the 28th and 29th beginning in our 5 pm show on Sunday.

   The people at the Foundation do remarkable work. It is entirely non-profit and they are some very, very dedicated marine biologists -- many of them schooled right here on Long Island. Southampton College (now run by SUNY Stony Brook) has an excellent program in marine biology.

   Before letting Timbo go, they attached a satellite transmitter to him so they can track his whereabouts. And they also want to get the word out to the public about the dangers of approaching seals. I have never seen one in the wild, but many Long Islanders have. They like to find sunny spots on a secluded stretch of beach or island. But many times they come ashore when they're sick or injured and it's important to stay away.

    Seals have big beautiful eyes -- dark and intense looking. Their faces are cute, almost like a puppy. And for that reason, they seem so approachable. But, unlike a puppy, they can bite your hand off. They are strong, with sharp claws and three-pointed teeth. (A dog has one point on its teeth.)

   So if you come across one -- or a sea turtle or any other sea creature -- keep your distance and call the foundation's stranding number -- 631-369-9840.

     You can actually see some of the Foundation's work. It's located inside Atlantis Marine World in Riverhead. And although the owners of Atlantis have been very generous in their support of it, the Foundation still relies very heavily on private donations. I've included a link to to their website that has information on how you can volunteer -- even adopt a seal.

    Hope you can catch my story next weekend. And hey -- you never know -- maybe if you're near the beach one day, you might even catch a glimpse of a seal popping his head out of the water or sunning himself. If he's got a pointy antennae sticking up from his neck, it's probably Timbo.

http://www.riverheadfoundation.org/

www.atlantismarineworld.com