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- Title
The Provision of Supplementary Heat for Hand-raised Harbor Seal Pups (Phoca vitulina).
- Authors
MacRae, A. M.; Haulena, M.; Fraser, D.
- Abstract
Harbor seals pups (Phoca vitulina) brought to wildlife rescue centers are often in poor body condition and may have difficulty maintaining body temperature. This study examined (1) whether such pups would position themselves close to an available heat source and (2) whether animals provided with supplementary heat would have greater weight gains and survival compared to animals without heat. Of 66 pups (<9 kg, ⩽2 body condition score, <10 days old), 24 received supplementary heat for 21 days and 42 served as controls for the same time period. Behavioral observations showed that animals spent 61 ± 3.8% (least squares [LS] means ± standard error means [SEM]) of observations on the heated side of the enclosure when ambient temperature was <16°C and that heat-seeking declined as ambient temperature increased. Heat made no significant difference in weight gain or survival, although small animals (⩽7 kg) and those fed a lowercalorie, fish-based diet tended to do better with heat than without. We conclude that supplementary heat can be used safely, with possible benefits, for low-weight harbor seal pups raised on artificial diets at cool ambient temperatures.
- Publication
Journal of Wildlife Rehabilitation, 2012, Vol 32, Issue 2, p7
- ISSN
1071-2232
- Publication type
Academic Journal