Pets in the Park

Wikipedia

During October, representatives of the Baulas National Marine Park will begin a new program for pets in the Park.  Pet owners will learn how to care for their pets in a way that supports Park wildlife, especially in regard to the marine turtles nesting here.

The new program has a goal of eliminating turtle nest destruction by uncontrolled domestic animals.  First, a census will be taken to learn how many pets live in the Park and where they live.  Very basic information will be collected about each pet for the program data base.  This information will also be used to prepare an identification tag for the pet's collar.  A photograph will be taken and stored with the pet's data record to aid in recovery if the pet is lost or stolen.

Another part of the program is the monitoring of domestic animals on the beach to assess the severity of nest destruction and to stop animals in the act.  Volunteers from the neighborhood and visiting volunteers will be part of the monitoring process.

For pet owners, there will be special events in the Park with veterinarians providing health consultations, vaccines, tick control advice, and spay/nuetering.

In December, there will be a scientific investigation by staff and students from Boston College.  The investigators will use GPS logger devices to learn the movements of pets within the Park.  Pet owners can volunteer to participate in this very informative investigation.

For further information, attend the volunteers meeting this Thursday, October 15, 6PM at the Park office.  At this meeting other volunteer actvities and topics will also be presented.