A LOCAL beach conservation group near Bude is urging residents to look out for wildlife that could be at risk, following the recent bad spell of weather.

Ado Shorland from Widemouth Task Force, a beach clean group based in the area, is trying to make people aware of the risks posed to marine wildlife during the autumn and winter season, particularly during bad weather, following a couple of recent rescues.

The first rescue was that of a 33.5kg seal pup, who was spotted on Thursday, October 11 swimming in the shallows at Widemouth Bay by locals Kerry Thomas and Toby Roberts. However, soon after, he disappeared. He was then spotted again by John Forward at Salthouse, who reported the sighting to Ado right away.

With Ado’s arrival, he noticed the pup had suffered some sore-looking, bleeding bite marks, which he presumed was received by an adult seal, but apart from that the pup was a healthy weight and appeared to be relaxing on the high tide line. The call was made to the head office of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue and the decision was made for the seal’s wounds to be inspected.

Ado, along with fellow Widemouth Task Force member Michelle Robinson Clement, discovered further bite injuries on the pup, hidden amongst his moulting fur, which were treated. They also gave him a life aid mix, before he was taken to the seal hospital for further checks and rehab. The seal was later named ‘Polurrian’ after a hotel that had sponsored a pup recently.

The following morning, Friday, October 12, a Great Northern Diver bird was discovered by Emma White along the high tide line, who appeared to be in distress. The report went to Rachel Shorland, who ran to the bird’s aid in the poor weather conditions to cage him. With further calls made, the bird was collected for further checks.

These are the contacts you should keep with you for any time when you see an animal in distress on the beach.

For live stranded marine animals, call the British Divers Marine Life Rescue on 01825 765 546; for dead stranded marine animals, call the Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Marine Strandings Network on 0345 201 2626; and for wildlife disturbance of harassment, call the Cornwall Marine and Coastal Code on 0345 201 2626.