2010 Alaska Stranding Network Meeting at ASLC - what does it take to be a strandings responder?

What would possess normally reserved researchers, nonchalant non-profit leaders, arcane administrators and otherwise sane scientists to volunteer to enter the labs at the SeaLife center, dress up like CSI investigators and begin dissecting dead and smelly marine life?..

Some insight may be gained by the fact that once again, for the 6th year in a  row, this same group had gathered from around the country and the State in snowy Seward in the middle of winter to discuss dead (and stranded) wildlife.  Yes, they are a dedicated bunch!  Last week the SeaLife Center hosted the Alaska Strandings network annual meeting and more than 50 eager partners joined us for three very intense days - this clearly is the meeting to be at if you work on injured and dead marine life.

As Seward Mayor, Willard Dunham noted in his opening remarks this network really is an important asset to the State of Alaska - with more than 500 person years of experience in responding the stranded marine mammals and birds, this group represents the core of Alaska's intellectual capital in this field.

Over the three days, the group heard about the range of cases that the network had been involved in, from the the species scale (e.g. walrus mass stranding event) to individual cases (such as the discover of pox in sea otters - a first for Alaska).  The group also undertook media training and engaged in a very useful discussion of how the Alaska SeaLife Center may be able to secure additional resources for stranding work - recommendations from that discussion will inform the ASLC 2020 strategic planning process currently underway.  They also heard a wonderful presentation on physiological adaptations to life below zero from the best selling author of "Cold" and active network member, Bill Streever.

The challenges confronting the group are enormous, particularly in view of the vast marine territory of Alaska, the uncertainties and unknowns associated with many species, the costs of strandings response in Alaska and the decentralized distribution of expertise and limited response resources.  Unlike many other states where there is vast expertise and widespread public support for strandings work, Alaskan network members really do have to improvise and scramble for resources. 

Despite those challenges, Alaska Strandings Network members are an incredibly resourceful and committed group.  We learn so much from this work that just would not be possible to obtain any other way. 

After observing first hand the great work being done by all members, it was evident that the meeting strengthened the unique bonds that bring this group together - maybe sharing a necropsy experience is good for team and character building after all!

* all photos courtesy of Tim Lebling