Save The Bay winter seal watch season kicks off in Westerly on October 14
WESTERLY, RI ??? Sept. 29, 2017 ??? Save The Bay will begin its 2017-18 seal tour season in Westerly, R.I. on Saturday, Oct. 14. The 90-minute nature cruise departs from Viking Marina in Westerly and cruises down the scenic Pawcatuck River and into Little Narragansett Bay. Riders enjoy beautiful fall views and a glimpse of early winter harbor seal visitors as they rest on the shorelines and nearby rocks. From Oct. 14???Dec. 31, Westerly tours will be held on Saturdays and daily from Dec. 27-31. For tickets and more information, visit savebay.org/seals. ??
???Years ago, locals would only see about five or six seals per year,??? said Education Program Manager Gr??inne Conley. ???Now, the seal count is up to over 600 throughout the Bay. When we see this many seals, we know there???s food for them, which means the water is healthy.???
Tours on Oct. 21, Nov. 18 and Dec. 9 will feature special guests, Dr. Allison Tuttle, Janelle Schuh, and Sarah Callan from Mystic Aquarium, who will share insights on the seals from the perspective of the aquarium???s marine mammal rescue program. As vice president of biological programs at Mystic Aquarium, Tuttle also serves as staff veterinarian and director of animal care in the aquarium???s animal rescue program.
This program is used as a rehabilitation clinic specifically designed for managing different seal species during their rehabilitation. Schuh also works with the animal rescue program as the stranding coordinator, responsible for seal rescues and taking care of stranded animals. Callan is a pinniped specialist who was part of a team that studied California sea lions at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in California. For over 15 years, Save The Bay has offered seal tours throughout the months of October through April, when harbor seals migrate south into local waters for food. Save The Bay???s partially covered, 30+ passenger vessels and binoculars allow viewers to see winter seals in their natural habitat. During the tours, Save The Bay marine experts will provide an educational overview of Rhode Island???s official state marine mammal.
While Westerly tours begin on Oct. 14, Newport seal tours will begin on Nov. 18 out of Bowen???s Wharf and run through April 22, 2018, and Fall River nature cruises will take place on March 10 and 17, 2018 out of Borden Light Marina. Nature Cruises and Seal Tours are $22 for non-members and $17 for all members, seniors and children ages 3-12. For more information and to purchase tour tickets, visit Save The Bay???s seal tour website at www.savebay.org/seals or call 401-203-7325.
Founded in 1970, Save The Bay works to protect and improve Narragansett Bay and its watershed through advocacy, education, and restoration efforts. It envisions a fully swimmable, fishable, healthy Narragansett Bay, accessible to everyone and globally recognized as an environmental treasure.