Animals
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Attention

Mysterious blob washes up on an Australian beach - a sea slug?

Natasha Christian
Sunshine Coast Daily
Mon, 25 Aug 2014 14:45 UTC
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What is this? A red blob was found at Mudjimba this morning.
Upate: Marine experts are slightly scratching their heads over a 'mysterious blob' that washed up on Mudjimba Beach earlier today but they think they may have identified it.

A spokeswoman for Queensland Museum said marine experts had taken a look at photos of the blob and said it was difficult to tell without examining it however they said they felt it was a sea slug.

"It's hard to pinpoint without examining it and knowing the size," she said.

"Their nearest guesses, based on colour and the side 'frills' is that it might be a Spanish Dancer sea slug."

Comment: Interestingly, on the very same day and about 15 kilometres away, this occurred: Australian students discover rare fish dead on beach

Also, back in June from the same general area: Rare purple jellyfish found on Ballina beach, Australia

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Fish

Australian students discover rare fish dead on beach


Sunshine Coast Daily
Mon, 25 Aug 2014 14:04 UTC
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© Fishes of AustraliaLing's Armour Gurnard, Satyrichthys lingi.
Year 12 biology students from Coolum State High School have stumbled across an exciting find during a field study excursion at Peregian Beach.

The students found a Ling's armour gurnard (Satyrichthys lingi), a very rare fish native to Australian waters.

According to the Atlas of Living Australia, only seven Ling's armour gurnards have been reported found in Australia since 2000, and only two in the past four years.

"We were there to study the coastal dunes of Peregian Beach. Through data collection of different variables, including temperature, light intensity, pH of soils and wind strength, we analysed the adaptations of the coastal plants," teacher and head of department Paul Olsen said.

"Then, to find the Ling's armour gurnard was a real thrill, even though we were a little disappointed we found it deceased, washed up on shore. The Ling's Armour Gurnard lives on the sea floor, similar to a flathead fish. Most of the rare sightings are by divers and marine specialists, so we were very lucky to find it," he said.
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Attention

Casualties of seafloor methane gas release? Hundreds of thousands more fish found dead in Plymouth tidal pool, UK

Patrick Daly
The Plymouth Herald (UK)
Sun, 24 Aug 2014 05:15 UTC
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Walkers found 'hundreds of thousands' of dead whitebait in the tidal pool at Devil's Point
Bebused walkers found "hundreds of thousands" of whitebait fish trapped in a tidal pool near Devil's Point yesterday.

It is the second time a shoal has been trapped in the same pool in less than two weeks.

Peter Wilkes and his fiance Carla Hosking were out enjoying a Sunday morning stroll with their 20-month-old son James when they thought they saw the pool at Firestone Bay looking as if it had "iced over".

On closer inspection, they found that it was the reflection of thousands of dead small dead fish which had become trapped in the shallow water.

"We saw the pond and it looked almost iced-over," said train-station worker Mr Wilkes.

Comment: Just a short distance away and around the same time as the above incident there came this report: Rare sei whale seen off Cornwall's coast in Penzance, UK

While across the Atlantic this happened: Rare 45-foot sei whale dies in Virginia river

In addition, another recent mass fish kill occurred back in the UK: Millions of dead herring wash up on Isle of Man coast, UK

One can't help but wonder if all these recent events are related and connected to this? Hundreds of methane plumes erupting along U.S. Atlantic coast

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Eye 2

Snake sightings on the rise in New Mexico this year, including more venomous Mojave rattler

Zack Ponce
Current-Argus News
Fri, 22 Aug 2014 00:29 UTC
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© Erik EndersonMojave rattlesnake
The Mojave rattler, one of the most lethal rattlesnakes in the Southwest, has been gradually moving into new territory in Southeastern New Mexico.

The snake is a type of pit viper that has recently migrated from California and Arizona and appears physically similar to the area's native Western diamondback rattlesnake and black-tail rattlesnake. Mistaking the Mojave rattler for the other rattlesnakes could mean the difference between life and death according to some experts.

The Mojave rattler's fangs are infused with a neurotoxin that is much more potent than its diamondback counterpart, leading the New Mexico Game and Fish Department to dub it the "most dangerous of the state's rattlers." The snake has a reputation for being quick to strike and has venom nearly as toxic as a cobra according to a Game and Fish Department fact sheet on New Mexico rattlesnakes.

Rick Johnson, a Carlsbad resident, was surprised to have seen two dead baby Mojave rattlers since last week.
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Question

Rare sei whale seen off Cornwall's coast in Penzance, UK

C M Jason
cornishman.co.uk
Fri, 22 Aug 2014 12:35 UTC
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Sei whale photo courtesy of Hannah at Marine Discovery.
A rare whale has been spotted off the coast of Penzance.

Experts believe these photographs show a sei whale - the creatures rarely visit water around the UK.

Sei whales are the third largest rorqual after the blue whale and fin whale.

These photographs were taken by Penzance-based marine wildlife tour company Marine Discovery.

Comment: See also: Rare 45-foot sei whale dies in Virginia river

Is there any connection to this?
Hundreds of methane plumes erupting along U.S. Atlantic coast

Read More...
Attention

Rare 45-foot sei whale dies in Virginia river


wjla.com
Fri, 22 Aug 2014 12:19 UTC
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A 40-foot whale that had been swimming around in a river died Thursday afternoon. A necropsy will be performed on the animal to find out just what caused its death
A rare whale that entered the Elizabeth River in Virginia earlier this week has died.

Joan Barns of the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center says the whale died on Thursday. A necropsy is planned, including tissue and blood samples for further study.

The 35- to 45-foot sei whale was first spotted Monday in the river's Southern Branch near the Jordan Bridge and Paradise Creek.

Marine experts said the whale been acting strangely and may have been ill or disoriented. Boaters had reported that the whale appeared to be swimming without a clear direction.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says sei whales are usually seen in deeper waters of oceanic areas far from the coastline.


Source: The Associated Press

Comment: See also: Rare sei whale seen off Cornwall's coast in Penzance, UK

Is there any connection to this?
Hundreds of methane plumes erupting along U.S. Atlantic coast

Read More...
Attention

Dead whale washes up Ghana coast

Emmanuel Opoku
spyghana.com
Fri, 22 Aug 2014 11:42 UTC
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The whale being taken for burial
The dead whale which was washed ashore at Atuabo, in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region, has been buried after some rituals were performed by the traditional leaders of the area.

The mammal was left there for about three days before the community, led by some traditional rulers and the area's chief fishermen, went and buried it.

The Daily Guide gathered that before the dead whale was carried by a bulldozer from the shore for burial, some rituals, including the pouring of libation, were performed.

The dead whale was washed ashore at Atuabo in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region last Sunday morning.

Measuring about 10 metres, the sea mammal was found in-between the pre-fabrication area of the Ghana Gas Company and the Atuabo ceme­tery.

The Assembly member for Atu­abo, John Quashie, who confirmed the story, indicated that as at 3:00pm yesterday, the mam­mal was still lying at the shore.
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Wolf

Fox attacks 3 people and two animals in Framingham, Massachusetts


WCVB
Fri, 08 Aug 2014 09:58 UTC
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Animal Control Officer William Sage tonight killed a rabid fox which police said had bitten three people and two animals in a 12-hour period, according to police.Wicked Local reported Thursday that with the help of police and firefighters, Sage tracked down, captured and killed the animal shortly after 5 p.m. behind a Rte. 9 office building at 463 Worcester Road, police reported.

The fox had attacked initially attacked a police officer, a health aide and a dog and cat, police said. Police answered a call about the fox biting someone who works at a company in the Rte. 9 building around 2 p.m. "He didn't see it coming," Zully Gonzales said. "He felt something bite him, he turned and it was the fox. It was pretty bad. The animal attacked him and he said he tried to fight back but it kept attacking him."

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Attention

Rabid raccoon attacks Seminole woman and her dog in Florida


mynews13.com
Thu, 21 Aug 2014 09:30 UTC
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Officials say if you or a family member has been bitten or scratched by a raccoon, or if you know anyone who was bitten or scratched, to contact the Florida Department of Health
Seminole County residents are asked to be on high alert after a raccoon that attacked a resident, and her dog, tested positive for Rabies.

The incident occurred in about 3 miles from a Rabies alert that was issued on July 22.

Officials say if you or a family member has been bitten or scratched by a raccoon, or if you know anyone who was bitten or scratched, to contact the Florida Department of Health in Seminole County at 407-665-3294.

It's important to remember that Rabies is present in the wild animal population, and domestic animals are at risk if they are not vaccinated. An animal with Rabies could infect other wild or domestic animals that have not been vaccinated. Officials say Contact with feral cats, stray dogs and all wildlife particularly raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks, otters, bobcats and coyotes should be avoided.

The following advice is issued:
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Attention

15 metre whale found dead on New Zealand beach - second in fortnight

Peter de Graaf
nzherald.co.nz
Sat, 23 Aug 2014 13:32 UTC
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Ninety mile beach.
A 15m whale found dead south of Ahipara is the second in a fortnight to wash up on Ninety Mile Beach.

The baleen-type whale was first spotted on Wednesday by a member of the public in rock pools offshore where the water was too rough for a closer inspection. It was initially thought to be small, about 3m long, but its true size became apparent yesterday when it washed up on a beach near Tauroa Pt. Its species is not yet known.

DJ Neho, of Department of Conservation's Kaitaia office, said DoC was speaking with Te Rarawa representatives about what to do with the giant carcass. As a baleen whale it does not have the teeth or jawbone prized for carving.

In the meantime, Mr Neho urged the public to look but don't touch the whale carcass.
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