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July 2009 
01/07/09 Hoggie uplifted tonight - Never a camera at hand when
you need one!
Out for an early evening run into the Glens - yes I did! Screamed at
Hubby to stop the car! Wasn't sure if what I glimpsed was real or
not so ran back to the spot for a second look.
A forest running the entire length of the road partitioned off with
chicken wire. ...and a hoggie who had obviously climbed half way up
the chicken wire before deciding to try and squeeze through the
square gaps. How I Laughed...head and front feet through to one side
facing the forest, back feet wriggling at the other nearest the road
with his middle stuck fast!
I'm not sure how long he had been like that but as he was squealing I
cut him (Glen as I named him) free, and decided to take him home to
check him over. Obviously a summer juvenile learning to forage for
food.
He has no obvious signs of injury but drank loads of water and
scoffed a whole dish of Royal Canin AD before settling down.
I plan to release him in the same area (away from the chicken wire)
in a week or 2 once he has gained more body weight.
Elaine Roft
Marine Mammal Medic
05/07/09
Adult common seal female dead investigated tonight, location witheld
for now. Call from Tayside Police to Elaine Roft...Medics Lorraine
Mathieson and Stewart Burns dealt with call out separately due to
other commitments.
Severe decomposition to adult, heavy maggot infestation Wildlife
Crime officer and police informed and supplied with photos. Thanks
to Karen Kirk who was shadowing Jason Carter (BDMLR On call) for
help.
Adult and pup will be removed from beach by Environmental Health
Monday 6th June once police have given the ok.
Having received photos from Medics Gemma and Lorraine Mathieson, I
can now confirm that we have an adult female common seal in a severe
state of decomposition. The pup, which was of excellent body weight
appeared to have been suckling from the adult at the time of death,
with blood issue around the lower jaw. HOWEVER... there are vast
differences in the states of decomposition with the adult (severe)
To the pup (mild) which has left us all a little baffled. The
rounded sac which is shown in the photo protruding from the adult
was described by Medic Stewart Burns as being like a foetus
surrounded with amniotic fluid. The photo has been passed on to
BDMLR Vet James Barnett for clarification as, if it were a foetal
sac, its too highly placed on the adult, which makes us wonder if
its gas filled, decomposing internal organs. Updates will follow
once we hear back from James.
thanks to Medics Lorraine, Gemma Mathieson Stewart Burns & Vicky
Mair.
Karen Kirk BDMLR on call.
Elaine Roft
Marine Mammal Medic
Update
I think the sac you are looking at is the stomach, distended by gas
in
a decomposing carcase. I was slightly thrown because it seems a
little far forward on the body, but I still think this is the most
likely explanation.
James Barnett
BDMLR Veterinary Director
05/07/09 Today's rescue is a sandy coloured female (Jill)
ferret that I retrieved from by brother Colin Bells garden. He had
called me saying that it was spotted in his neighbours (Derek
Hinshelwood & Tracy Sparks garden) before making for his outdoor
cockatiel aviary. On my arrival, between them all, they had managed
to secure it under a laundry basket. Once home, I contacted the
police and was given an incident number for the ferret and asked to
hang on to it which will be for life now based on its present
condition. "Teal" as I have named her was severely malnourished,
severely dehydrated, and has severe conjunctivitis. She was also
rabid whilst contained. She was given Lectade oral rehydration
fluids over a 24hour period before being placed on a veterinary
prescription high protein diet of hills AD. She has a vet check on
08.07.09 where she will be given eyedrops for her conjunctivitis
although I suspect she is blind too (possibly from having been in
fields that have been sprayed with pesticides) as no cataracts are
visible. She has also had, I suspect, a broken leg at some point
which has re-set in a twisted manner, or because of the severity of
malnourishment is suffering from rickets. This will all be confirmed
by the vet tonight. It will take her months to gain adequate body
weight so for now she is in an intensive care unit getting round the
clock care and attention and much needed love. Vet check was held
off, mainly to see if she was going to survive the initial 48hours
and to prevent further distress to her after uplift as recommended
by my veterinary surgeon.
Updates on her progress will follow later. This particular photo
does not show the severity of her true current state.
Elaine Roft
Marine Mammal Medic
07/07/09 Out walking today, I stumbled upon a
tiny hoglet near to Johnshaven cemetery which was out during the
daytime (An indication that all is not well). It was brought home
and placed in a run in my garden with provision of water and food
whilst I arranged collection of it later in the day by Elaine who
offered to take it under her wing. I must thank Lois (the little boy
for helping me and for providing it with a "hog toy" during its
short term stay with me. Elaine called to collect it just before
5.30pm and said it would be placed with a hoglet (Glen) which she
currently has at home as they were both of the same size (Summer
Hoglets which have clearly just left mum, out during the day, and
haven't quite grasped foraging for food or developed their nocturnal
habit). We decided to call the hoglet "Lois" after the little boy
who helped me. Lois is the size of a small orange but appears bigger
in this photo as it was taken "close up" with zoom lens by Elaine
Rebecca Chambers
Marine Mammal Medic
I'm pleased to say that having come to me from the local vets with a
maggot infested stomach wound and very little hope of survival, last
years tiny summer hoglet "Destiny" was finally released back into
the wild tonight. Her progress has been very slow over the year, but
during months indoors overwintering then in soft release from May
till the beginning of July this year and with her wild instincts now
returned it was time to finally set her free. I found a lovely
deciduous wood with lots of lush dewy grass which would help her
with water intake, it had old upturned trees perfect for hibernation
later in the year and for finding a plentiful food supply of beetles
and such like and a lady in a cottage who is wild about animals so
an "aunty" to look out for her! I placed her in a small box that she
can clamber out of, placed a large quantity of food and water in
beside her, then proceeded to cover her up in amongst the grass.
Whilst I was doing this she was having a good sniff about her taking
in the different smells, then she started to eat the food I had
left. I bid her a happy life and wished her well shedding a few
tears in between the video footage I took of her, blew her a fond
farewell kiss then walked away. (Not the easiest thing to do after
such a long time) especially as I get attached, but happy and
confident that I gave her the best start in her Hoggie life. During
my time releasing her I was fortunate to have been joined by a very
young roe deer. I did not photograph it for fear of spooking it.
Elaine Roft
Marine Mammal Medic
10/07/09
Call from Mr Webster of Dundee (01382552178) 8.30pm to Elaine's
mobile. Dead (sealion!!!) seal reported at Tayport the right hand
side of the lighthouse, partially submerged in water. Mr Webster has
taken photographs and will forward later. Meanwhile Medic Stewart
Burns and Volunteer Jennifer Ross has reported back that the seal is
freshish but decomposing on its back, head skeletal. Unsure of ID so
will forward photos to Elaine. Env Health will be notified Monday
for uplift (If the tide hasn't taken it back out). Karen Kirk BDMLR
on call notified of call out and updated throughout.
Photos sent to Elaine's mobile -appears to be a common pup approx
4ft in length (CONFIRMED BY STEWART), Neck twisted, jaw severed in
many places, rest of body (from photo received on mobile) appears
fresh, although skin has been cut away from underneath front
flippers round the back area exposing the rib cage. Unsure if
stomach intact or if the skin that's cut away from the back is the
entire circumference incorporating stomach area. Further photos
received at midnight via e mail from Jennifer. Seal I can now confirm
is too decomposed for post mortem. Reports location and photos sent
to SAC. Carcass bagged and secured for uplift by Env Health Dept.
Elaine Roft
This from Bob Reid
Dear Elaine,
I am on leave at the moment..
We are still keen to get carcases of fresh common seals and as time
goes on maybe even less than fresh would be useful.
I hope all is well with you.
Best wishes,
Bob
13/07/09
Fresh dead seal, possibly shot, retrieved from Lunan Bay (North).
Thanks to Medics Thom McNeil, Stewart Burns and Paul Horne who were
on scene to take all criteria before bagging it. The carcass was
taken from the North end of the beach to an awaiting trailer at the
car park by our quad bike helper (you know who you are)! Confirmed
as a female Grey seal shot during "open season" which, under the
present CSA 1970, is not illegal although I can't for the life of me
understand WHY??? 14/07/09
Our seal was transported North to SAC In Aberdeen for short term
refrigeration by Stewart and Thom pending uplift from SAC
Pathologist Andrew Brownlow in Inverness.
Brief summary of post mortem details
It would appear this animal died from a single, sudden, traumatic
insult to the skull, possibly that of a gunshot. The head has been
retained for further analysis. The stomach showed evidence of recent
successful feeding on pink-fleshed fish and crustaceans and a sample
of stomach contents has also been retained. It is possible the
linear foreign body found would have caused problems in time however
there was no evidence of a current problem at that site. The foreign
body being A wire fishing float line, 25 cm long.
This female Grey seal was also in her last
trimester of pregnancy with a foetus retrieved weighing 2.2kg.
Elaine Roft Marine
Mammal Medic
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/stopsealshooting/
27/07/09 Having had the rescued ferret for 3
weeks on Sunday 26th July, I noticed into my second week of having
her July 20th that she had developed signs of pregnancy...despite
still being on a prescription diet to boost her severly malnourished
state! Unsure if this was a phantom pregnancy or a true one, I
worked out 3 possible dates of when kits would be born had there
been the remotest chance that she had been mated prior to escaping
from wherever and going on the run! Dates calculated for possible
pregnancy prior to rescue and being on the run as indicated below.
3wks on the run - due date of poss kits July 26th
2wks on the run - due date of poss kits Aug 2nd
1 wk on the run - due date of poss kits Aug 9th
My vet was informed and I was advised to monitor Teals behaviour and
to look for any changes in her.
After 2 false alarms, 23rd and 24th July (vomiting and going rabid )
I sought immediate vet advice.
July 25th I noticed a dilation to vulva of 1/2mm and the presence of
milk. This could still be a phantom pregnancy and again was advised
to monitor for a further month, although I was convinced she was in
labour so left her for the night.
Bang on first due date July 26th at 7.30am in the morning, I checked
on Teal to find her delivering her first kit! Monitoring continued
throughout the day avoiding the nestbox for fear of her eating the
first kit born and any other ones that may follow.
Monday 27th July, now into day 2, mum and kit are doing away fine so
far!, no sign of any more kits, no signs of straining, discharges
etc with mum so we are assuming that she may be a first time mum,
who, given her malnourished state on rescue was only able to produce
1 baby.
To date, monitoring of mum continuing, vet has advised if there's
any downhill change then she may still have dead kits inside her
which will mean an operation and me hand rearing kit (although its
looking unlikely).
Sincere thanks to Steve Cochrane of Tayside Ferret rescue for all
his help Sunday as vet was closed (Emergencies only) and for his
continued support.
Photo below is for illustration only, this is not Teals kit. Photos
to follow when Mum has the all clear and kit now named "Polar" is
fully weaned.
Elaine Roft
31/07/09
Lunchtime, my childhood friend (we were reunited 3 years ago) after
a 30 year spell of no contact! Chris Low from Auchnagaat called me.
He had been working at the "colours" nursery in Ellon, when the
digger he was operating dug up a rabbits nest. With the nest in
tatters and their home now ploughed up and stripped of all
vegetation, there was absolutely no way mum was going to return. The
rabbits, no bigger than his hand, and only one with its eyes open,
were scooped up and placed in a box and contained within the
nursery. I contacted Keith Marley who runs The North East Wildlife
Animal Rescue Centre with his partner Pauline Martin who confirmed
that they had a supply of Esbilac milk and would collect them for
rehabilitation. It is hoped that if they survive they will be
released back to the area once it has been re-planted.
Elaine Roft
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