Bill Couch
12-05-04, 01:19 PM
Following are two news releases from the Nongame Office of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division.
SUMMARY OF RELEASES FOR OCTOBER 26, 2004
1. RARE SOWERBY'S BEAKED WHALE FOUND ON GEORGIA BEACH
A rare event occurred on the Georgia coast on July 29th when a 3.8-meter Sowerby's beaked whale carcass washed ashore at St. Catherine's Island. The whale was discovered on a remote section of beach by Maggie Hart, a technician with the St. Catherine's Sea Turtle Project, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD).
2. EXOTIC CUBAN TREEFROG DISCOVERED IN SAVANNAH
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) encourages south Georgia visitors and residents to report any sightings of the Cuban Treefrog to the Georgia DNR/WRD, 116 Rum Creek Drive, Forsyth, GA 31029 (478-994-1438). All sightings should be documented by taking photographs or collecting individuals. The Cuban Treefrog is an exotic species that was accidentally introduced into the Florida Keys, presumably on produce brought from Cuba. The first documented record of the Cuban Treefrog in Georgia was recently reported from Savannah.
For More Information Contact:
Clay George, Wildlife Biologist, Nongame Endangered Wildlife Program, (912) 264-7218
Robin Hill, Public Affairs Coordinator, (770) 918-6789
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RARE SOWERBY'S BEAKED WHALE FOUND ON GEORGIA BEACH
BRUNSWICK, Ga. (October 26, 2004) - A rare event occurred on the Georgia coast on July 29th when a 3.8-meter Sowerby's beaked whale carcass washed ashore at St. Catherine's Island. The whale was discovered on a remote section of beach by Maggie Hart, a technician with the St. Catherine's Sea Turtle Project, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD).
"As soon as we saw the digital photographs, we knew it was a species of beaked whale," said Clay George, a wildlife biologist for WRD specializing in marine mammal management and conservation. "However, this specimen didn't look like beaked whales we had seen in Georgia before."
Beaked whales are rarely observed and are notoriously difficult to identify, so digital photographs, measurements, and the skull were sent to Dr. James Mead, an international expert on beaked whales at the Smithsonian. Dr. Mead and his team confirmed the whale as a Sowerby's beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens), probably a yearling female. This stranding marks the fifth record of a Sowerby's beaked whale in the United States. Like most beaked whales, very little is known about the life history of the Sowerby's beaked whale. They have a long "beaked" snout, reach a length of 5.5 meters, and travel in pods of up to 10 animals. They are usually sighted in the open North Atlantic Ocean along the Gulf Stream where pockets of warm water concentrate fish, squid, and other prey. Sowerby's beaked whale is the most northerly distributed beaked whale, occurring in waters off New England and Canada, eastward to Iceland, the British Isles, and Western Europe. Prior to this stranding, a stranding of one whale on the Gulf Coast of Florida was the only sighting in the temperate western Atlantic. The whale's skull will remain at the Smithsonian to serve as a voucher specimen for this elusive species' distribution.
Data collection and species confirmation for this rare occurrence was coordinated through the state's Marine Mammal Stranding Network (MMSN). MMSN biologists and cooperators respond to all live and dead stranded marine mammals along the Georgia coast. The data that are collected are used to assess population health, investigate human/marine mammal interactions, and contribute to a better understanding of marine mammal species. Approximately 20-40 strandings occur in Georgia each year. Most marine mammals that strand in Georgia are already dead when wind and waves wash them ashore. When marine mammals strand alive, most are injured or sick which causes them to beach themselves in the first place and euthanasia is often the most humane course of action.
Like land mammals, marine mammals give birth to live young that are suckled with milk produced by the mother. Unlike land mammals, they have adaptations that allow them to survive in marine and estuarine environments. Marine mammals include all species of whale, dolphin, and manatee. WRD asks that you do the following things if you ever encounter a stranded marine mammal:
· Contact the Department of Natural Resources immediately at (912) 262-7218 Mon-Fri during
business hours or (800) 241-4113 after hours.
· Be sure to note the location, number of animals, and if any are alive.
· If possible, return to the area and wait for help to arrive.
· Do not touch or attempt to push animals back into the ocean. Marine mammals are powerful
and can cause serious injuries to onlookers. Sick animals may have diseases that can be transmitted to humans.
Funding for the Georgia Marine Mammal Stranding Network comes in part from funds earned through the sale of the Bald Eagle/American Flag wildlife license plate. Georgians can support the conservation and protection of marine mammals by purchasing a wildlife license plate for their vehicles, or by donating to the "Give Wildlife a Chance" State Income Tax Checkoff. Since 1997, more than 1 million wildlife license plates have been sold in Georgia raising millions of dollars for the conservation and management of Georgia's nongame wildlife. The primary source of funding for the Nongame Wildlife and Natural Heritage Section, the new 2004 plate depicts a bald eagle before the American flag. This new tag replaces the 1997 tag featuring a Northern bobwhite (quail) in flight through longleaf pine habitat. No state appropriations are available for the conservation of marine mammals in Georgia.
###
For more information, contact:
Kitty Esco Spivey, Sr. Public Relations and Information Specialist - (478) 994-1438
John Jensen, Wildlife Biologist - (478) 994-1438
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EXOTIC CUBAN TREEFROG DISCOVERED IN SAVANNAH
FORSYTH, Ga. (October 26, 2004) - The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) encourages South Georgia visitors and residents to report any sightings of the Cuban Treefrog to the Georgia DNR/WRD, 116 Rum Creek Drive, Forsyth, GA 31029 (478-994-1438). All sightings should be documented by taking photographs or collecting individuals. The Cuban Treefrog is an exotic species that was accidentally introduced into the Florida Keys, presumably on produce brought from Cuba. The first documented record of the Cuban Treefrog in Georgia was recently reported from Savannah.
"This is an invasive exotic that has been pushing rapidly north thru Florida and was always a possibility to reach Georgia," said WRD Wildlife Biologist John Jensen. "We do not know if this tropical species can survive South Georgia's winters and become established, but it will be a cause for concern if it does."
The Cuban Treefrog is the largest treefrog in North America reaching 5 ½ inches in length with green, bronze, or gray colored rough skin. This species has unusually large toe pads and external ear disks compared to native treefrogs of Georgia. This treefrog can be found in a variety of habitats, especially in residential areas, during the breeding season which extends from May through October. The male's call is a variably pitched, slightly rasping or grating snore. They can be seen around houses, near well-lighted patios, and on highway billboards where they feed on insects attracted to lights, as well as the native treefrogs attracted for the same reason. The Cuban Treefrog is highly predaceous and will eat anything it can catch and swallow, including insects, spiders, and other frogs.
"The Cuban Treefrog is a voracious predator that has displaced native treefrogs in many parts of Florida thru competition and predation," explains Jensen. "There are established populations in Florida not far south of the Georgia border, so it is quite possible that this species can survive in our state."
The Cuban Treefrog continues to spread on the Florida mainland by hitchhiking on crates and transplanted shrubs. For more information, or to report a sighting of the Cuban Treefrog, contact John Jensen, GA DNR/WRD, 116 Rum Creek Drive, Forsyth, GA 31029, www.john_jensen@dnr.state.ga.us or call (478) 994-1438.
###
Editors Note: Photographs of the Cuban Treefrog and the Sowerby Whale are available by contacting Melissa Cummings - (770) 918-6788. Visit the following website for additional information and to hear a vocal recording of the Cuban Treefrog: http://www.enature.com/fieldguide/showSpeciesRECNUM.asp?recnum=AR0021
SUMMARY OF RELEASES FOR OCTOBER 26, 2004
1. RARE SOWERBY'S BEAKED WHALE FOUND ON GEORGIA BEACH
A rare event occurred on the Georgia coast on July 29th when a 3.8-meter Sowerby's beaked whale carcass washed ashore at St. Catherine's Island. The whale was discovered on a remote section of beach by Maggie Hart, a technician with the St. Catherine's Sea Turtle Project, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD).
2. EXOTIC CUBAN TREEFROG DISCOVERED IN SAVANNAH
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) encourages south Georgia visitors and residents to report any sightings of the Cuban Treefrog to the Georgia DNR/WRD, 116 Rum Creek Drive, Forsyth, GA 31029 (478-994-1438). All sightings should be documented by taking photographs or collecting individuals. The Cuban Treefrog is an exotic species that was accidentally introduced into the Florida Keys, presumably on produce brought from Cuba. The first documented record of the Cuban Treefrog in Georgia was recently reported from Savannah.
For More Information Contact:
Clay George, Wildlife Biologist, Nongame Endangered Wildlife Program, (912) 264-7218
Robin Hill, Public Affairs Coordinator, (770) 918-6789
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RARE SOWERBY'S BEAKED WHALE FOUND ON GEORGIA BEACH
BRUNSWICK, Ga. (October 26, 2004) - A rare event occurred on the Georgia coast on July 29th when a 3.8-meter Sowerby's beaked whale carcass washed ashore at St. Catherine's Island. The whale was discovered on a remote section of beach by Maggie Hart, a technician with the St. Catherine's Sea Turtle Project, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD).
"As soon as we saw the digital photographs, we knew it was a species of beaked whale," said Clay George, a wildlife biologist for WRD specializing in marine mammal management and conservation. "However, this specimen didn't look like beaked whales we had seen in Georgia before."
Beaked whales are rarely observed and are notoriously difficult to identify, so digital photographs, measurements, and the skull were sent to Dr. James Mead, an international expert on beaked whales at the Smithsonian. Dr. Mead and his team confirmed the whale as a Sowerby's beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens), probably a yearling female. This stranding marks the fifth record of a Sowerby's beaked whale in the United States. Like most beaked whales, very little is known about the life history of the Sowerby's beaked whale. They have a long "beaked" snout, reach a length of 5.5 meters, and travel in pods of up to 10 animals. They are usually sighted in the open North Atlantic Ocean along the Gulf Stream where pockets of warm water concentrate fish, squid, and other prey. Sowerby's beaked whale is the most northerly distributed beaked whale, occurring in waters off New England and Canada, eastward to Iceland, the British Isles, and Western Europe. Prior to this stranding, a stranding of one whale on the Gulf Coast of Florida was the only sighting in the temperate western Atlantic. The whale's skull will remain at the Smithsonian to serve as a voucher specimen for this elusive species' distribution.
Data collection and species confirmation for this rare occurrence was coordinated through the state's Marine Mammal Stranding Network (MMSN). MMSN biologists and cooperators respond to all live and dead stranded marine mammals along the Georgia coast. The data that are collected are used to assess population health, investigate human/marine mammal interactions, and contribute to a better understanding of marine mammal species. Approximately 20-40 strandings occur in Georgia each year. Most marine mammals that strand in Georgia are already dead when wind and waves wash them ashore. When marine mammals strand alive, most are injured or sick which causes them to beach themselves in the first place and euthanasia is often the most humane course of action.
Like land mammals, marine mammals give birth to live young that are suckled with milk produced by the mother. Unlike land mammals, they have adaptations that allow them to survive in marine and estuarine environments. Marine mammals include all species of whale, dolphin, and manatee. WRD asks that you do the following things if you ever encounter a stranded marine mammal:
· Contact the Department of Natural Resources immediately at (912) 262-7218 Mon-Fri during
business hours or (800) 241-4113 after hours.
· Be sure to note the location, number of animals, and if any are alive.
· If possible, return to the area and wait for help to arrive.
· Do not touch or attempt to push animals back into the ocean. Marine mammals are powerful
and can cause serious injuries to onlookers. Sick animals may have diseases that can be transmitted to humans.
Funding for the Georgia Marine Mammal Stranding Network comes in part from funds earned through the sale of the Bald Eagle/American Flag wildlife license plate. Georgians can support the conservation and protection of marine mammals by purchasing a wildlife license plate for their vehicles, or by donating to the "Give Wildlife a Chance" State Income Tax Checkoff. Since 1997, more than 1 million wildlife license plates have been sold in Georgia raising millions of dollars for the conservation and management of Georgia's nongame wildlife. The primary source of funding for the Nongame Wildlife and Natural Heritage Section, the new 2004 plate depicts a bald eagle before the American flag. This new tag replaces the 1997 tag featuring a Northern bobwhite (quail) in flight through longleaf pine habitat. No state appropriations are available for the conservation of marine mammals in Georgia.
###
For more information, contact:
Kitty Esco Spivey, Sr. Public Relations and Information Specialist - (478) 994-1438
John Jensen, Wildlife Biologist - (478) 994-1438
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EXOTIC CUBAN TREEFROG DISCOVERED IN SAVANNAH
FORSYTH, Ga. (October 26, 2004) - The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) encourages South Georgia visitors and residents to report any sightings of the Cuban Treefrog to the Georgia DNR/WRD, 116 Rum Creek Drive, Forsyth, GA 31029 (478-994-1438). All sightings should be documented by taking photographs or collecting individuals. The Cuban Treefrog is an exotic species that was accidentally introduced into the Florida Keys, presumably on produce brought from Cuba. The first documented record of the Cuban Treefrog in Georgia was recently reported from Savannah.
"This is an invasive exotic that has been pushing rapidly north thru Florida and was always a possibility to reach Georgia," said WRD Wildlife Biologist John Jensen. "We do not know if this tropical species can survive South Georgia's winters and become established, but it will be a cause for concern if it does."
The Cuban Treefrog is the largest treefrog in North America reaching 5 ½ inches in length with green, bronze, or gray colored rough skin. This species has unusually large toe pads and external ear disks compared to native treefrogs of Georgia. This treefrog can be found in a variety of habitats, especially in residential areas, during the breeding season which extends from May through October. The male's call is a variably pitched, slightly rasping or grating snore. They can be seen around houses, near well-lighted patios, and on highway billboards where they feed on insects attracted to lights, as well as the native treefrogs attracted for the same reason. The Cuban Treefrog is highly predaceous and will eat anything it can catch and swallow, including insects, spiders, and other frogs.
"The Cuban Treefrog is a voracious predator that has displaced native treefrogs in many parts of Florida thru competition and predation," explains Jensen. "There are established populations in Florida not far south of the Georgia border, so it is quite possible that this species can survive in our state."
The Cuban Treefrog continues to spread on the Florida mainland by hitchhiking on crates and transplanted shrubs. For more information, or to report a sighting of the Cuban Treefrog, contact John Jensen, GA DNR/WRD, 116 Rum Creek Drive, Forsyth, GA 31029, www.john_jensen@dnr.state.ga.us or call (478) 994-1438.
###
Editors Note: Photographs of the Cuban Treefrog and the Sowerby Whale are available by contacting Melissa Cummings - (770) 918-6788. Visit the following website for additional information and to hear a vocal recording of the Cuban Treefrog: http://www.enature.com/fieldguide/showSpeciesRECNUM.asp?recnum=AR0021