[Stronsaylimpet] British Divers Marine Life Rescue medics course

[Limpet editor]

/From Bill Hodgson on Stronsay's Facebook page:/

After Rosalind and I went to the aid of the Grey Seal pup tonight I 
thought the below may of interest.
Rosalind and I are also looking at trying to get a British Divers Marine 
Life Rescue medics course arranged on Stronsay. This will depend on 
numbers. If anyone is interested we will look at options to have the 
training delivered on Stronsay. Please PM if interested.
Grey seal pups are the adorable, fluffy offspring of grey seals 
(Halichoerus grypus) — large marine mammals found in the North Atlantic, 
including around the UK, Ireland, the US east coast, and parts of 
northern Europe. Here are some key facts about them:
🐾 Appearance
At birth: Pups are covered in a soft, white fur called lanugo, which 
helps keep them warm on land but isn’t waterproof.
After 2–3 weeks: They shed this white coat for a sleeker, grey-spotted 
adult-like one that’s suitable for swimming.
Weight: Around 10–15 kg (22–33 lbs) at birth and can double their weight 
in just a couple of weeks.
🍼 Life Cycle
Birth season:
Around September–December in the UK and Northern Europe.
January–February in the northwest Atlantic (e.g., Canada, New England).
Nursing: Mothers feed pups rich, fatty milk for about 2–3 weeks. During 
this time, the mother does not eat and relies on her stored fat.
Weaning: After about three weeks, the mother leaves — and the pup must 
learn to swim and hunt independently.
First swim: Usually occurs around 3–4 weeks old, once they’ve molted 
into their waterproof coat.
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