Animals

Humpback whales put on a show off the North Shore 
19 Aug

Humpback whales put on a show off the North Shore 

Rick CuznerAnimals, Local News
These are photos of humpback whales I’ve seen on a few different trips. At one point, I had around a dozen moving along the coast just off Gloucester in the schools of pogies (a type of fish).  COURTESY PHOTOS / RICK CUZNER Over the past month, I have seen several as close as Halfway Rock. They are quite a sight to see. Humpback whales are common off the coast of Massachusetts from spring through fall. They gather to feed in rich local waters, typically arriving…
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Seal carcass near Barnacle shows signs of great white shark bites
05 Aug

Seal carcass near Barnacle shows signs of great white shark bites

Leigh BlanderAnimals, Public safety, Top Stories
Editor's note: Two of the photos below may be upsetting to some. A dead seal that washed ashore near The Barnacle restaurant over the weekend appears to have been attacked by a great white shark, according to shark expert John Chisholm, an adjunct scientist with the New England Aquarium. Marblehead resident and avid swimmer Jane Bianchi snapped photos of the seal after a friend alerted her. She sent the close-up images to Chisholm, who also works with the White Shark Conservancy Sharktivity app. Chisholm said…
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CUZNER IN NATURE: Seal-ebrity sightings off Marblehead 
05 Aug

CUZNER IN NATURE: Seal-ebrity sightings off Marblehead 

Rick CuznerAnimals, Columns, Cuzner in Nature, Local News
These are photos of grey seals snapped off the coast of Marblehead at the Great Pig Rocks in July. I am always amazed by the number of seals out there. Low tide seems to be the best time to spot them, when plenty of rocks are exposed for the seals to lay on and sun themselves. Grey seals are one of the largest marine mammals in New England. Adult males can reach 7 -8 feet long and weigh 600-800 pounds, while females are typically about…
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MERRIGAN IN MARBLEHEAD: Bees on a wing
05 Aug

MERRIGAN IN MARBLEHEAD: Bees on a wing

Leigh BlanderAnimals, Columns, Court Merrigan, Opinion
Avoiding some unpleasant piece of business, one of those phone calls you’d rather not make, I started paying attention to the birds flitting around outside my office window. Just out there doing their thing, effortlessly darting through branches with their little bird brains. In rather stark contrast, overhead the big jets lumber into Boston Logan Airport on a straight flight path, no deviations. A path chosen, presumably, for its fuel-efficient obedience to Newtonian physics. Whereas those birds are like quantum quarks, or what I imagine…
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Need some music in your life? Meet Caruso
04 Aug

Need some music in your life? Meet Caruso

Leigh BlanderAnimals, Community Resources, Press releases
Headline: Need some music in your life? Meet Caruso ParakeetSize: SmallAge: YoungSex: Male Meet Caruso, named for the famous opera singer because this little bird loves to sing along with any music, especially classical! Caruso was found wandering the streets and turned in at the fire department. He is a young male and he is slowly learning to trust. He will sit on your finger to enjoy treats. He would love some parakeet company in his new home. For more information and to fill out…
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PAWS & CLAWS: Shelter has rockin’ litter of kittens ready for adoption
27 Jul

PAWS & CLAWS: Shelter has rockin’ litter of kittens ready for adoption

Submitted ContentAnimals, Community Resources, Press releases
Breed: Domestic shorthairSize: MediumAge: KittensSex: Female and male The Marblehead Animal Shelter recently took in a mother cat, whom a rock ’n’ roll fan in the shelter’s volunteer corps dubbed Mother Love Bone, along with her litter of kittens. Those kittens — females Thin Lizzy, Molly Hatchet, Blondie (who is actually calico with more black) and Metallica and males Zeppelin and Nirvana — are now ready and waiting to be adopted. All of the kittens are friendly, playful and outgoing, according to shelter volunteers (though…
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PAWS & CLAWS: Grey Guys hope for blue skies
15 Jul

PAWS & CLAWS: Grey Guys hope for blue skies

Marblehead Current staffAnimals, Community Resources, Nonprofit corner, Press releases
Grey Guy One and Grey Guy Two were found after being dumped in carriers at a construction site. They have now had an “extended stay” at the Marblehead Animal Shelter, which volunteers do not fully understand, as each would make a great addition to a home, they say.  While Grey Guy Two is more outgoing, Grey Guy One prefers to hang back and survey the situation, according to volunteers. “He is shy, but he is a sucker for treats, especially ‘Party Mix,’” they say. Grey…
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Papa Puff is a mild-mannered munchkin mix
13 Apr

Papa Puff is a mild-mannered munchkin mix

Marblehead Current staffAnimals, Community Resources, Nonprofit corner, Press releases
Breed: Munchkin mixSize: MediumAge: AdultSex: Male Papa Puff came to the Marblehead Animal Shelter through an animal control officer of a busy city. His large round face reminds shelter volunteers of an owl. “Just beautiful,” they say. He is quiet in nature and sweet and can easily be picked up, according to volunteers. Papa Puff has just started to be able to have some out time from his “apartment” at the shelter. “His personality is slowly developing, but he seems like he will be a…
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CUZNER IN NATURE: Love is in the air
13 Apr

CUZNER IN NATURE: Love is in the air

Rick CuznerAnimals, Columns, Cuzner in Nature, Local News
Spring is a great time to explore local wildlife. Lots of exciting things are happening. The trees and flowers start to bloom, ospreys return, as do migrating birds like warblers and hummingbirds.  Perhaps the most exciting from a photographer’s standpoint is the birth of new wildlife. Finding a den or nest usually yields some great photos. This is an older photo of a screech owl nesting cavity that has been the home of many sets of owlets over the years. Here, the two adults peer…
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