BDMLR Wester Ross

21/03/2025

This is a similar story to our male Long-finned Pilot Whale from last year in Loch Ewe, the elation and relief as they swim off only to be followed by devastation when they re-strand and die elsewhere 😞

Our thoughts are with our colleagues BDMLR South West England ###

19/03/2025

07/03/2025

This morning we had reports of a mass stranding of Dolphins on Balnakeil Beach, Durness.
Our medics arrived on scene to find four Striped Dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), a pelagic species growing up to 2.5 metres, that occasionally visit the waters of the Highlands.
Sadly one was already deceased, the other three were assessed by our specialist Cetacean Vet via photos, videos, measurements and vital sign recordings with the help of Head Office.

All three were juveniles, the smallest one was in poor body condition and not fully weaned. As no other dolphins had been sighted off shore; our vet decided the kindest option would be to euthanise the small one as it had little chance of survival.

The other two Dolphins were successfully returned to the sea at high tide and after they were reacclimatised and medics were confident they could swim properly; they were released, and the team watched them swimming strongly away from the beach.

Thank you to everyone involved, especially Emma T and Emma M our Durness Marine Mammal Medics for all your hard work, to the local Coastguard crew who assisted in ensuring all aspects of this rescue were done safely and to the local marksman who kindly assisted with the euthanasia to stop the suffering of the one that couldn’t be saved.

Scottish Marine Animal Strandings Scheme are collecting the deceased animals for autopsy.
📸 Emma T and Emma M

06/03/2025

We do occasionally get turtles up here on the west coast too. If you find a turtle on the beach please call BDMLR x

What to do if you find a turtle 🐢

After hearing about two turtles recently found in the UK but not reported in time to be rehabilitated, now is a good time for a reminder of what to do if you find a turtle.

Most importantly,

🐢 DO NOT put them back in the sea
☎️ Call us on 01825 765546 (24hr hotline)

04/03/2025

Unfortunately the entanglement was so severe and the weather and sea conditions so poor, despite the efforts of the Large Whale Disentanglement Team sadly this poor S***m Whale could not be saved. A very sad ending despite best efforts of our specialist LWDT. 😔

02/03/2025

A sterling effort to try help this poor S***m Whale by BDMLR’s Large Whale Disentanglement Team in really challenging conditions! Thank you to all involved xx

On Saturday 1 March, BDMLR’s Large Whale Disentanglement Team (LWDT) freed an entangled s***m whale off the east coast of the Isle of Skye.

07/02/2025

No photos, please 📸 🥹

I just need a rest. Can I have some space?

We're incredibly lucky to host a large portion of the world's seals, but are they so lucky? Does our desire to photograph everything negatively impact our wildlife?

It doesn't have to. The Seal Alliance offers excellent advice on photographing seals respectfully here 👉 www.sealalliance.org/how-to-photograph-seals

Getting too close and allowing dogs and children near seals can also have a negative impact; on the seals, your children, and your dogs.

Always

06/02/2025

31/01/2025

Well done to our Large Whale Disentanglement Team 🐋🐋🐋

20/01/2025

An excellent effort by our colleagues in Cornwall 🙌🙌🐬

17/12/2024

Wow! Well done little pup!

19/11/2024

On Sunday we had another multi-team relay to get this beautiful wee seal pup up to Clare at Caithness Seal Rehab.

A report came in of a small injured pup at Sallachy, on the shore of Loch Long. BDMLR Skye medic Declan attended; the pup appeared underweight, dehydrated, was bleeding from its mouth and had p***y discharge around its eyes… the poor wee soul clearly needed assistance.

Then came the task of getting him to Caithness! After getting the pup into a crate, Declan drove him to Achnasheen where he handed him over to Wester Ross medic Nic, Nic drove him to Dingwall to hand over to Inverness medic Janet who completed the trip! A total of 176 miles!!!

On arrival after weighing in at just 11kg and being hypothermic he was given rehydration fluids then assessed by the vet, he has a broken and severely infected incisor tooth and possible liver infection… He is now on antibiotics and lexicon for pain.

Well done to all medics, out of hours coordinators at BDMLR Head Office and of course to Caithness Seal Rehab who will continue his care, you are all amazing!!
📸 Declan, Nic & Janet

11/11/2024

Beautiful Peach was another Outer Hebrides pup that needed a lift up to Caithness Seal Rehab & Release last Thursday.
First reported to BDMLR by members of the public, Fiona, Tony and Kirsty, the pup was on the Crowlista salt marsh, Medic Jim arrived to assess only to find the pup had gone, she was eventually relocated by Fiona, Tony and Kirsty further in land and far from the place she had been first spotted, they informed Jim who returned.
Peach was clearly dehydrated and underweight with a small wound above her eye.
She was first taken to Stornoway vets for assessment and initial treatment before spending the night in the care of Lyndsey, Lily, Debra and Jim at Aroha where she received rehydration fluids.
Jim took her for the CalMac Ferry to Ullapool early next morning where Wester Ross Coordinator, Donna, collected her for the drive up to Clare in Caithness.
Another fabulous multi-team effort for a beautiful animal in need of our help!

05/11/2024

An amazing success story for the BDMLR Large Whale Disentanglement Team. Well done guys, you rock! 🐋🔪🪢

31/10/2024

Another Outer Hebrides Grey Seal pup, another epic journey and an amazing effort to get him to Clare at Caithness.
Mangetout had been on Mangestra beach for 4 days when local lady Meg thought he began to look unwell and called BDMLR.
Jim, Debra and Lyndsey from the BDMLR Outer Hebrides team went to assess and with the help of local man Iain Buchanan and his quad; collected the pup.
He had a nasty eye ulcer and a high temperature so they took him to Stornoway vets for assessment and treatment before heading to Aroha Wildlife Sanctuary for the night where he received rehydration fluids and cooling flipper baths to reduce his temperature from Jim, Debra, Lyndsey and Lily.

Onto this morning… Bright and early; Jim took him to Stornoway port and he was passed into the care of CalMac Ferries for his journey to Ullapool and then the rest of his journey was up to us!
Assistant Area Coordinator, Leigh, collected him from the ferry in Ullapool driving him to Ardvreck, then Jo took him from Ardvreck up to Durness and Emma drove him from Durness to D S McGregor & Partners Vets in Thurso where she met up with Clare; Mangetout’s treatment plan was decided and then it was on to Caithness Seal Rehab & Release.
Thank you to everyone involved in this pup’s journey not forgetting Molly and Sarah at British Divers Marine Life Rescue head office and out of hours

28/10/2024

It was a busy weekend for the BDMLR Outer Hebrides and Wester Ross team with two Grey seal pups to relay from the Islands to Caithness Seal Rehab & Release. Pumpkin (Tiadh) is only a few days old and had lost his mum and Pawpaw is approximately 3-4 weeks old, she is underweight and with small infected puncture wounds on her back and rear flippers.
Thank you to Stornoway Vets, Aroha Wildlife Sanctuary, CalMac Ferries and members of both BDMLR teams for their help in getting these two beautiful babies to the seal hospital where they will stay until they are big and strong enough for release back to the wild.
Medics involved in the relays were Máiri, Jim, Debra, Lily, Karen, Eimear and Wester Ross AC Donna.