The past few days we have seen more pleasure crafts than tour boats and these pleasure crafts get way too close and I can never find them on the radio because it is very hard to know which channel they are on
A group students stayed Saturday night to film around the island looking at ecological impacts which around here are mostly due to sea lions trampling all the green and turning it into mud
Ecological
The little steller is still around, haven’t noticed any new injuries on any of the sea lions
the sea lion that was by the jetty before that seemed lethargic and didn’t really respond to people left for 2 maybe 3 days and is now back in the same spot and it is much more energetic and responsive than before
the number of sea lions seems to have gone up from the last census by about 100, will post more numbers below
I have been consistently seeing about two humpback whales per day
Maintenance
The fence now only needs typically one minor repair per day, the sea lions are getting used to staying away from it
I still need to stay on top of clearing them away from certain areas, they seem to not crowd the entrance to the generator room anymore or the burial cairns as much, but they have taken a strong liking to the grass around the lighthouse
A team comprised of the DFO and Vancouver Aquariums Marine Mammal Rescue (MMR) came out to Race Rocks on September 16th to help the entangled sea lions we’ve spotted over the last few weeks. Leaving from Pedder Bay at 0900, they arrived in two RHIBs at the reserve shortly after. After observing the struggling animals over the last while and communicating information with MMR, they were a welcomed sight.
MMR and DFO arrive at the edge of the reserve.
An eco tourism boat encounters the DFO support vessel in front of the jetty.
Right away we spotted three possibly entangled sea lions from the lighthouse (unfortunately none of these three being the animals we photographed previously). We then landed the team of vet techs and veterinarian Marty at the jetty to assess the situation. It was decided that one of the sea lions resting by the water between the guest house and the helicopter pad was our best rescue candidate.
The entangled sea lion.
Visual contact from the water!
Marty and a videographer from Vancouver Aquarium approached over the helicopter pad from the direction of ‘Camera 5’. They got into position and a shot was taken, but the tranquilizer dart bounced and the sea lion fled into the water.
Preparing the tranquilizer.
The sea lion was estimated to weigh 500kg, and the dose had to be measured accordingly.
(1) Heading towards the helicopter pad.
(2)
Marty gets into position below the helicopter pad.
Lining up the shot with the tranquilizer gun.
(1) Another angle of the sea lion
(2)
From the lighthouse we were able to follow its movements and keep the team apprised by radio. There was uncertainty about whether or not it received a partial dose of the tranquilizer as it floated in strange positions/patterns. Moving around Race Rocks to the water beside the solar panel/generator building, it hauled out again and another shot at it was lined up from one of the boats. The angle wasn’t quite right, and it again fled into the ocean and couldn’t be spotted. It was around 1400, and everyone took a break to have some food.
After this, everyone considered calling it off as it was getting late and we couldn’t locate the animal. At the last moment, with both boats ready to head back to Pedder Bay, it was spotted from the lighthouse (resting on the rock mound on the NW point of Great Race Rock)! Tranquilizing was attempted from water, but the dart bounced again and landed in the water and was recovered. Here’s a short video of that:
After that, it ended up too far from the water to try another shot by boat, so in a final effort the one boat landed Marty and the team again while the other stayed on the water to support. With no cover available between him and the animal, Marty had no choice but to crawl about one hundred feet in order to take the shot.
The sea lion is sighted again on the point of NW Race Rock.
MMR team gets back onto land.
Gearing up for the land approach. Hopefully some good video was captured!
Marty moves over challenging terrain near our compost bins, staying low while managing to carry the large tranquilizer gun.
(1) The electric fence was off, but it still was an obstacle as standing would have frightened the surrounding sea lions into the ocean!
(2)
(3)
We were able to capture the following footage of the sea lion being darted, going into the water, and then after a tense 20 minutes during which a pod of transient orcas appeared in the reserve (who sometimes eat sea lions), it was found! The team proceeded to cradle the animal between their vessels and remove the plastic band. Then, they injected a reversal drug to reverse the tranquilizer before letting it go.
Everyone was relieved to have successfully helped an animal in need. We have suggested that future disentanglement efforts might have a better chance if extended to overnight stays in the guest house, and perhaps coordinated and executed in a more timely manner in relation to the animal sighting(s). This time we were unable to find the original animals that we had previously spotted, since it took quite a while to organize the rescue attempt. A big thank you to everyone who came to help this sea lion and teach us about their work!
Check out rescue.ocean.org to learn more about the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue program, and Ocean Wise.
Thanks to the rescue team, one more sea lion has a better chance of survival! (vet Marty holding the dart gun and dart used to tranquilize the sea lion)
Visibility 15 miles this morning, < 2 miles this afternoon
Wind 0-10 knots NE
Water calm
Boats/Visitors:
A whole boat load of visitors this morning! VP of Pearson College Tyrone, Alum in residence Norbert and friends to advise on our solar panel system, a desalinator consultant (in preparation for the new desalinator!), and an insurance appraiser.
Fewer whale watching boats this week, but we have been concerned about the frequent use of flash photography and its possible effects on the wildlife.
Greg also made another trip to bring us some water this afternoon.
Yesterday we watched a pleasure craft approach the sea lions near our jetty and throw some kind of food at them (some of it hit the sea lions). We were able to capture them scaring the animals, who stampeded into the water. They hovered to take photos and unfortunately pose with their open alcohol. Even more unfortunate, the bait that we saw being thrown at the sea lions previously and perhaps this time as well is not suitable for consumption, as many times it has been treated with formaldehyde.
Ecological:
Many sea lions now, and unfortunately a few that are injured. Aside from the two that we have mentioned previously, we have been finding more fishing hooks scattered around and a sea lion appearing to have a nasty wound possibly caused by an embedded fishing hook.
This afternoon we also noticed a sea lion with a propeller inflicted gash on his head. He seemed to be dazed or perhaps concussed due to the injury. Normally the sea lions are skittish and make a ruckus if we get too close, but this one didn’t react to our presence and seemed notably lethargic. We were concerned that he might fall victim to the injury, but approximately an hour later he seemed more alert, reacted to our presence, and seemed to be doing okay.
We reported the tagged sea lion to the researchers in California and were excited to hear that they have some information about him and his early life. We hope to be able to share more soon! This little guy has already swum almost 1500 km from his birth place, Ana Nuevo CA.
Yesterday there was quite a bit of smoke caused by controlled burning taking place on the nearby DND land. They burned 20 hectares of Gary Oak habitat to protect the species (from invading conifers) and and prevent spread of invasive plants.
Sea lion hit by a boat (propeller injury to skull) (1)
Struggling to stay alert and conscious due to the injury (2)
Infected wound possibly caused by a fishing hook injury
Controlled burn on Rocky Point DND land
Fishing hook left behind by sea lions
Elephant seal GE103 from California
Troublemakers!
A big yawn
Recently deceased seagull- we were surprised by the lightness of its skeletal structure.
Census:
350 sea lions
50 harbour seals
1 elephant seal
40 cormorants
60 adult gulls, and some chicks (they are too hard to see from the lighthouse)
Today we saw another entangled sea lion hauled out near the jetty. It appears to be wrapped in fishing line, which has embedded itself in the sea lions flesh over time causing infection/rotting.
Seeing these injured animals is a reminder that improperly disposing of garbage, fishing (cut/broken lines, lost nets, etc.), and other ecologically detrimental human activities causes the suffering and death of large (and small) marine life.
Even after an entangled animal dies the damage continues. Modern fishing line made of nylon or polyvinylidene fluoride can take hundreds of years to decompose and after that, it continues to have detrimental effects. The majority of plastics used by humans decompose into ‘microplastics’ composed of/leeching out toxic chemicals such as BPA (bisphenol A) which can then magnify up the food chain accumulating in the organs of larger and larger animals, humans included.
BPA and other compounds such as plasticizer (plastic softener) Diethylhexyl phthalate effects humans as well as other animals, long after we pollute our environment. As the polymer chains break down, humans can be easily exposed by eating seafood, drinking contaminated water, and many more avenues of exposure. This may lead to cancer, birth defects, childhood developmental issues and more.
We’ve notified Marine Mammal Rescue, hopefully they will be able to help this sea lion and the other entangled one.
Water rough, waves to half a metre with some whitecaps
Boats/Visitors:
No visitors today
The whale watching boats continue to decrease in volume, this month looks to be a turning point in their season.
Ecological:
We spotted the sea lion with plastic around its neck on the jetty last night, and today it was hauled out onto land between the helicopter pad and the guest house. We contacted DFO, and the entanglement response team will assess if it’s a job that they can do.
This afternoon we saw a blue heron, which we haven’t seen before out here.
Maintenance:
The Coast Guard visited briefly a few days ago. They stayed on RR for about an hour and did some maintenance on the fog horn system. Two people came on to land, and a third stayed in the Coast Guard zodiac.
(1) The entangled sea lion on the jetty.
(2) The offending material looks like it may be polypropylene strap, the kind used when packing and shipping large boxes.
(3) It looks like it hurts.
Working on the fog horn.
The coast guard vessel.
A large sea lion defends its position from the highest part of a rock.
A small seal in front of the boat shed.
It doesn’t seem to mind resting with the larger sea lions.
Sky partly cloudy, some thick fog banks passing over us
Visibility 5-15 miles, intermittent fog
Wind 0-5 knots W
Water calm
Boats/Visitors:
Yesterday we had a great team of volunteers come to help remove the rest of the shingles and accumulated rubbish from around the island. We still have some more to go but it’s looking great!
Greg showed us how to set up the electric fencing to keep the sea lions off some of the island. Yesterday we set up one at the back of the island and will need to set up the fence near the jetty soon.
Today Corey and his family will pop in for a visit
Our friend is going home this afternoon
Ecological:
We spotted the seagull chick that had been attacked (and lost an eye) yesterday and it’s doing well. It is missing an eye now but is learning to fly alongside the others.
We saw two orcas pass just outside of the reserve on Thursday
The sea lions have started to come further onto the island, and there are more and more each day
Visibility 15+ miles in the afternoon, heavy fog in the morning
Wind 15 knots W
Calm water
Boats/Visitors:
This afternoon I (Kai) dropped Mara off on land, she will be away for a few days – I have the rock to myself!
Pearson vessel Second Nature has been doing water tours around Race Rocks
Ecological:
The sea lions double in number every day, and you smell them before you see them… Many can be seen with open wounds, 3-6″ long bloody cuts in their sides and back.
Beside the jetty, I spotted a young seagull getting its feet wet in the protected waters. This is the first time we’ve seen them enter the sea.
A steady stream of whale watching boats today, but not too busy (15 or so). We were pleased to note that they seemed to be keeping mostly to the centre of the channel.
Quite a few small pleasure crafts just outside of the reserve, but only a few entered.
Ecological:
The seagull chicks are getting bigger every day and are beginning to wander more adventurously. This is making it harder for us to move around the island as they are unpredictable and often stray onto the paths. The adult seagulls are more aggressive than ever and have started to dive at our heads.
We noticed that the lack of wind yesterday and clear sunny day was causing the seagulls to pant like dogs. Apparently this is a way for them to shed excess heat through their mouth lining.
A boat getting quite close to a sea lion resting on the jetty.
The college boats are still in for maintenance, so we have not had any visitors. We are hoping to go to the main island soon but winds were much too strong and unpredictable today.
The past couple of days we have seen a handful of eco-tourism vessels and pleasure craft. Some vessels have approached within 20 m of our jetty and surrounding Great Race Rock. The elephant seals have been scooting up the jetty to get away and the few sea lions remaining appear disturbed.
Ecological:
We were sad to find the missing gosling deceased. It seems that due to its injured foot it was easy prey for the bald eagles that have been swooping by lately.
We are now in the company of 4 very large male elephant seals who have stopped here to moult. They are enjoying taking regular baths in the shallow and protected jetty waters.
The occasional sea lion has stopped by and hauled out for a rest, but otherwise they have all moved on.
The seagulls are becoming more and more aggressive. We are anticipating the need to wear protective equipment sometime in the coming week!
Maintenance/Other:
We are still waiting for the delayed desalinator, so we are conserving water as much as we can in the meantime, as it is not possible for more to be delivered without the use of the college vessels.
We have been collecting shingles as the high winds are tearing them off of the sheds (new metal roofing is expected sometime soon), and often find fishing lures, bits of rope, and other litter wedged into the rocky intertidal.
The beautiful sunny days lately have meant that we have been able to operate entirely on solar power most days. We’ve been having some troubles with the battery charge readings but otherwise the system is working without a hitch!
Seagull hovering above to deter us from a nest.
Three of four large male elephant seals on the island and one of the younger seals that is now completing its moult.
One of the more aggressive seagulls and the eco-guardian residence.
Family of geese in front of the desalinator and water tank structures.
A seagull nest built just outside of our basement door!
