Old Friend Number 13

Ramsey is one of the most important breeding locations for Atlantic Grey Seals in the Irish Sea and the Southwest of Britain. Between 600 and 750 pups are born on the island’s beaches and in our caves each year. Must pups are born in September and October although some early pups are born in August and late pups can be born up until Christmas.

We have been regularly photographing individual seals here since 2007 in order to track their behavior and movements from one year to the next. Many seals have distinctive scars on their body which allow us to recognise them more easily. Scars can be caused by environmental sources like collision with rocks or scratches from the beach and some are caused when seals fight with other seals. Sadly, many are caused by contact with marine rubbish, especially discarded fishing gear which can result in nasty wounds, usually around the neck and head.

Many well known females have returned to Ramsey to give birth already this year, here’s a couple of interesting stories:

Ramsey Cow Number 13 – Nickname - Minnie Mouse (because of scar pattern – Well I can see it even if no-one else can!)

This cow came into the little beach under the Ramsey farmhouse at 09:30 this morning to give birth to her 2014 pup, 12 days later than in 2013. She has pupped on the same little Ramsey beach called ‘Aber Felin’ since 2012, but also pupped twice on neighbouring Skomer Island in both 2008 and 2010. In fact she has been known to many island seal researchers since 2001. Her full history has been collected by successive Wildlife Trust staff and myself. I actually remember her from when I worked on Skomer in 2005 and like to think that she followed me north when I moved to Ramsey!

This photo was taken this morning and shows her pup just after it was born. The blood is just from the birthing process, you can still see the umbilical cord, still attached on the rocks.

Below is Ramsey Cow Number 13's full history. (Her Skomer number is 006).  Thanks to our friends and fellow seal workers – Jim Poole, Jane Matthews, Dave Boyle for the Skomer sightings over many years and to Ed and Bee who continue this work on Skomer today.