YARMOUTH PORT, Mass. – Hundreds of dolphins, seals and whales are stranded on beaches in the Bay State every year, but dwindling government support is making the job to save them extremely difficult for rescuers and scientists.

Katie Moore is a marine mammal rescuer and scientist for the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) in Yarmouth Port. She says her group not only rescues the stranded animals, but also studies them, which gives scientists a glimpse into the health of the environment.

"We do a lot of health assessments, and we are looking for zoonotic diseases for one thing, and those are diseases that can be passed between animals and humans," she explains. "And that tells us about how healthy is the ecosystem that we rely on for shellfish and commercial fisheries and recreation."

Marine mammals are protected under a federal law, the Marine Mammal Protection Act. It falls under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to fulfill the mission of rescuing and releasing them - but Moore says since 2000, both NOAA and Congress have reduced funding by about 70 percent.

IFAW has an online petition asking Congress and NOAA to restore Prescott Grant Funding for marine mammal rescue programs nationwide.

Moore blames this lack of funding for the struggles her organization and others around the country - many of them nonprofits - are facing to save the animals, despite private funds and scores of volunteers who help. This means stranded animals in some areas could go without help, she adds.

"It also means that we're not out there keeping tabs on the health of that ecosystem," Moore says. "Animals really can tell us when something's happening. They can be a kind of early warning system, and if we're not there to do that, then that can put people in harm's way, if we're not there to see what's happening."

Moore says if you see a dead or stranded sea animal on the beach, call your local police. They usually have a link to the local stranding network. Another option is a call to one of NOAA's regional hotlines to report stranded or beached marine animals.



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Later this month, a western Wisconsin town will hold an annual celebration including an event known as a "chicken toss." Animal rights advocates say it is an example of entertainment across the country that comes at the expense of defenseless creatures.

A key attraction at Ridgeland's Pioneer Days festival involves a contest where chickens are tossed from a rooftop, and attendees who catch a bird get to keep it.

Kristin Schrank, board vice president of the group Alliance for Animals, said the birds can become injured, and there are no veterinarians on site to evaluate them. She argued it is time for the tradition to be replaced.

"As a society, we -- over time and every day -- are gaining a better understanding of the mental and physical impact that events like these have on animals," Schrank asserted.

She contended similar events, such as greased pig competitions, add to the animals' trauma. Organizers and participants at the Ridgeland festival have long argued their event, described as "chicken fly," is harmless fun as part of a celebration, which brings much-needed revenue to the community.

On a broader scale, some communities are changing their approach in light of growing awareness. For example, a county festival in California has replaced its greased pig competition with slippery watermelons.

Schrank noted a lot of children attend the events, which is another reason it is important to send the right message.

"How we treat animals is a demonstration of how we should have compassion for, really, for all living beings," Schrank emphasized.

Her group also stated the chicken toss underscores the need for Wisconsin to step up enforcement of its crimes against animals law, which includes a provision for mistreatment. An online petition is circulating, calling for an end to the Wisconsin event.

Wolf packs lose their ability to thrive when one of their members dies as a result of human activity, according to a new study that comes amid calls to ban a bear-hunting practice at a Wisconsin site to protect wildlife.

Researchers have said wolves sometimes venture out of protected sites such as national parks. When one is killed by poaching or struck by a vehicle, the chances of its pack staying together decrease by 27%. If it's a pack leader, group stability decreases by more than 70%.

Kira Cassidy, a research associate at Yellowstone National Park who led the research, said these impacts don't always surface in population estimates but they're just as important.

"We know that wolf packs live in these family groups where each wolf kind of has their own set of responsibilities and tasks, especially the leaders," she said, "and so, when a pack loses one of those, it is the most detrimental."

The study also cited a negative effect on reproduction. In Wisconsin, conservation and wildlife groups are asking the U.S. Forest Service to ban hounding in Wisconsin's Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Because of federal protections, wolves can't be hunted, but the petition said there are still "violent encounters" between hunting dogs and wolves, even when other animals are being hunted.

The Center for Biological Diversity was among the groups seeking the ban, where Collette Adkins, its carnivore conservation director, said it's a matter of public safety, too, with people hiking through forests sometimes surrounded by hunting dogs. She said she feels the activity is a stark contrast to the purpose of these sites.

"We don't think this type of hunting has any place in our national forests," she said, "which really should be a haven for wildlife."

On a broader scale, some pro-hunting groups and farmers' advocates have said wolves prey on livestock that need to be protected. Separately, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is in the process of updating its wolf-management plan. The public comment period has been extended to Feb. 28.

As the New Year takes shape, Wisconsin officials say they are still trying to get to the bottom of a recent death involving a bald eagle and are asking the public for help.

Last month, the wounded animal was discovered just outside Milwaukee and later died during surgery. The Humane Society and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources say there's evidence the animal was shot.

Nick Miofsky, southeast region law enforcement supervisor for the DNR, said the probe continues, and any information from the public would certainly aid their investigation.

"If anybody has any information about the eagle or knows anything about what happened, contact our Wisconsin DNR tip line," Miofsky urged.

The tip line number is 1-800-847-9367. Eagles and their nests are federally protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Wounding or killing one comes with a $100,000 fine and one year in prison for a first offense. The punishments increase for a second violation.

The DNR said Wisconsin's bald eagle population has rebounded after previously being on the endangered species list. Miofsky noted he understands how starling cases like these can be for the public.

"I can definitely understand how people are passionate about our national symbol and icon," Miofsky acknowledged. "And being in the line of work that I'm in, whether it be an eagle or other wildlife, I mean, I don't like to see anybody intentionally harm wildlife outside of regulated hunting and trapping."

Earlier this year, the agency was investigating another fatal shooting of a bald eagle. The incident also happened in the southeastern part of the state. It is unclear if there is any connection to what happened in December.