Stranded Pilot Whales need your help in Key Largo, FL

[Lisa Mongy]

Thanks for the info, we missed you at REEF Fish and Friends. I should have read your poste BEFORE I went, would have passed the info along for assistance. Will be sure to schedule some time down there!

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

Wanted HC to help too, but you must be over 18 to get into the water. I was assured though that there is plenty to do on land also and Hermit Crab being there will be appreciated.
Even if you can't get in the water, please call to see if you can help out.

 

[The Chairman]

Thanks for the info, we missed you at REEF Fish and Friends. I should have read your poste BEFORE I went, would have passed the info along for assistance. Will be sure to schedule some time down there!

We have come to love those meetings at Reef and at the Museum of Diving Museum. One of the many perks of living here in the Keys.

 

[mselenaous]

Thanks for posting this. I am able to help. Going down for Fri morning shift.

Let me know when you are finished with your shift so we can grab some lunch afterwards.

 

[NYCNaiad]

If they will really be doing this for a while, then I'll contact them before I go down for Memorial Day weekend. I have at least 18 hours when I won't be diving before I go home and I can certainly offer up a shift.

 

[beertiki]

If you can volunteer, do it. It really is amazing. I got to the stranding site early on Friday, brought one in, helped move the dead, and spent time in the water with 2 of the whales. The large male (meteoright) was still very active, hard to hold and vocal. It was not until we figured out who he was talking to and moved that whale closer did he calm down. They know you are there to help, if the whale did not want you holding it, one blow from the massive fluke could kill you. MMC will need all the help you can give, many did not sleep at all some nights, and it seems half of the people signed up for a shift would not show up. We (FKCC Scuba Club) will be making a trip up there soon to take some of their stranding classes and watch the whales overnight when help is most needed. Sign up, it will be something you will never forget.

 

[The Chairman]

I pulled almost 3 shifts today: 8:00am to 6:30pm with a 20 minute lunch.

Folks: We need your bodies in the water! This is an amazing opportunity to help out these whales and I don't want you to miss it.

I got there this am and was first put with an 800 lb female, #300. I was told she was developing a "Sea Curve" and so I took special care to balance her in a way to keep her tail straight. Unfortunately, our tryst was short and I was transferred to help out Hoss, a 1750#, 22 ft long male in distress. Al and I did our best to keep his blow hole out of the water, keep his head and dorsal fin wet as well as to report any changes in his health. They were all fed @10:00 am and Al and I were assigned an alternate holding position. We had to keep this big boy from backing up as the feeding tube was inserted 4 ft into his stomach.

That accomplished, four of us started moving him to deeper water until evening. Once out there, Hoss started doing this chuffing sound, like he was trying to clear his throat or hock a loogie. We went from having only two tenders to three in a hurry and then to four. Hoss wasn't doing well. His breathing was way labored through the afternoon, and they finally had us move him back to shallow water where the vets and staff could work on him. All in all, they gave him a shot of prednozone and then a shot of lasil. We were giving updates on breathing as well as dodging the loogies he was coughing up. The guy in front always had one or two hanging off of him. It was kind of funny in a sad way. At one point we had 7 people attending to him. When I left he was not out of the woods, but he was doing better. Hoss is a fighter, and I am hoping for a full recovery.

Thanks to all the guys working with Hoss: Robert, Jim, Bob, Dana, Scott, Al, Will, Bredon, Robin and a couple of others.

A special Kudos go out to the staff and customers of Ocean Divers and Key Largo Dive Center for helping out. Both dive centers are going the extra mile to get customers to help out. YOU CAN TOO!

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

Let me know when you are finished with your shift so we can grab some lunch afterwards.

8-12, but may stay on a little to help if needed...HC has a commitment in the evening, so we can't stay too long, but would love to see ya!

 

[Heath Sapp]

Be down next weekend after my dive with garden cove I will help to net doc i'll call you later for info.

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

Heath, call them directly. I was able to speak to Brandon who set me up with a time to volunteer.

The Marine Mammal Conservancy, located at MM 102.2 Bayside needs many more volunteers to work 4 hour shifts throughout the weekend. Most critical demand is at night. Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age. Volunteers need foot-protection (booties, watershoes, sneakers) & wetsuits (There are loaner wetsuits available.) Although there are tarps to protect from the sun, please bring hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen (faces only so it doesn't rub or washoff onto the whales). There is a camping shower set-up so you can shower off at the end of your shift if you desire.

www.marinemammelconservancy.org

You can find out more by calling 305-451-4774 (be patient, the Stranding Coordinators are busy). In the next day or so, an online volunteer sign-up program will be re-activated at www.marinemammelconservancy.org.

Additionally, donations are needed, not only financial, but immediately food & beverages for the volunteers and other supplies. The MMC can always use donated wetsuits if you have old ones around no longer in use.