Wildlife Biologist
Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program
An Eventful Weekend. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped to make the best of a tough situation.
On Saturday, August 8 at about 10:45 a.m., staff of Cape Henlopen State Park (CHSP) reported to Matt Bailey, Wildlife Biologist with the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP) in the Division o f Fish and Wildlife, that a whale had beached itself on the bayside of the Point in the protected nesting area for Piping Plovers, a species protected under the Federal Endangered Species Act. Volunteers and Division biologists familiar with the specific location of plover chicks at the Point assisted by monitoring chick movements, participating in response, rescue and recovery decisions in coordination with MERR Institute (Marine Education Research and Rehabilitation) and CHSP staff to avoid and minimize impacts to plovers, and by talking with the public and ensuring they kept a safe distance from both the rescue operation and plover chicks. It was determined that the whale was a 22-foot long Minke that stranded on the tidal flats about 150 feet inside the closed area. Several attempts were made to coax the whale back into deeper water, but each time the whale turned around and headed back into the shallows. A veterinarian was called in to assess and ultimately to euthanize the whale. Five volunteers with MERR also volunteer for the Plover Watch project, which greatly assisted with providing accurate information to the public about both the whale and the piping plovers. The Division continued to assist with monitoring plovers and speaking with the public on Sunday, August 9 while MERR conducted a necropsy. Under the circumstances, the Division appreciates the cooperative spirit among state agencies, MERR and all of the volunteers who assisted with this stranding event.
Matthew Bailey
Wildlife Biologist
Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program
Phone: (302) 382-4151
matthew.bailey@state.de.us
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