We are Allied Whale
Gordon Maguire ’26, left, and Yasmine Osseiran ’27 with other students and volunteers collecting the bones of a young female fin whale that live-stranded and died in the Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge a year previous.
Anara Katz ’24
It was a cold, drizzly dawn when Rosemary Seton, coordinator of College of the Atlantic Allied Whale’s Marine Mammal Stranding Response Program, drove a month-old seal pup to meet up with Gina Silverman and her teenage son Olin at the head of Mount Desert Island. This pup, who had been found with sores and injuries all over her body, was in dire need of medical care, and the closest appropriate facility was the National Marine Life Center in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. Silverman and her son had volunteered to drive the pup the whole way.
“I figured Gina volunteered because they had to go to Massachusetts,” Seton recounted. “She said she just wanted to drive the pup. I was so floored by that.”
Bittersweet, a grey seal pup found on Sand Beach in Acadia National Park who unfortunately died during transport to a rehabilitation facility.
It took all three of them to carry the crate from Seton’s truck to the back of Silverman’s car. Seton had cautioned that the pup might die along the way. But when Silverman saw the helpless creature, she knew she had to try, whatever the consequences. Seton explained how to best care for the seal, such as turning on the air conditioning and keeping their voices very low, and gave them gloves and protective gear if they needed to handle it.
“We were really worried she wasn’t going to make it, but we just kept going,” Silverman said. They spent the 330-mile ride looking back to check if the pup was still breathing. “We experienced heavy rain, it was coming down in sheets, and it was very intense. We were thinking we had minutes left, just to get her to where she needed to go. I remember asking my son if he could go a little faster, but it was hard under the conditions.”
About halfway through the trip, the pup had peed and was lying in her own urine. Because of all the open wounds on her body, they were advised to mop up the crate. “So, we pulled over on the side of I-95. The car was getting buffeted by the wind from the cars going past. Rosie told us to be really careful because the seal could bite because she might be scared. She bared her teeth when we opened the cage. I had the gloves on and just mopped up any of the urine that was there. It didn't look good at that point. I felt like we were racing against the clock,” Silverman said.
National Marine Life Center staff were texting with Silverman and were prepared to take the pup the moment she arrived. Before they could even park, a team of people opened the car door and carried the pup inside. Silverman remembers hearing one person say, “This isn’t good.”
Silverman recounted feeling a huge relief that they got the pup to the rehab center still alive. “I once heard somebody say that you love the things that you take care of, and at that point, she had taken ahold of our hearts.” That day, Silverman and her son were told that the pup had a 50-50 chance to live. They were on edge for days, continuously checking the National Marine Life Center website for any updates on the seal’s status.
After about a week, the center posted a video of the pup, who had been named Zion, swimming around in a pool. That was a big milestone, Silverman said. Two months later Zion’s release was scheduled.
COA Allied Whale Marine Mammal Stranding Coordinator Rosie Seton with Fluffy, a harbor seal pup born prematurely with a fluffy white lanugo, or birth coat.
Volunteers like Silverman are critical to the success of Allied Whale’s work. With Seton working as the only full-time staff in the stranding program, the group could not come close to fulfilling their stranding response mission without the help of volunteers. Seton, part-time staffers, COA faculty and students, and the team of dedicated volunteers give generously of their time and energy to provide this vital service. Averaging 130 stranding calls per year (not including multiple calls for the same animal), COA Allied Whale is responsible for handling all marine mammal strandings from mid-coast Maine to the Canadian border, a total of 2,600 miles of coastline including all the islands.
In addition to putting their lives aside to come to the rescue of marine mammals in need, volunteers are critical to Allied Whale’s educational efforts, helping to facilitate workshops with COA students and community members, lead necropsies and other opportunities to learn experientially with real specimens, and spread messages of care for marine ecosystems to their own communities.
“It’s not just about marine mammals. It’s about how humans are impacting marine life, the climate, and all life. It’s important to help people understand our role, good and bad, in the environment,” said Dr. Gayle Kraus, professor of marine ecology at University of Maine Machias and retired wildlife rehabilitator who has volunteered for over two decades in the stranding program. “Sometimes the best way to show the bigger picture is to get people to feel connected. You see a cute little seal pup, your heart melts. Now, you can begin to think about the bigger questions. Allied Whale is a part of that.”
Allied Whale formed during COA’s infancy in 1972 as a four-week class, Humans and the Great Whales. Biology professor Steven Katona, one of COA’s founding faculty members and a future president of the college, knew about as much about whales as the students—which is to say not very much—but joined them in the task of learning what he could, with a focus on saving these great creatures that were endangered due to human activities.
At the time, most people didn’t really know what most whales looked like, and whale population statistics in Maine didn’t exist. The group started to gather an idea of the whale population in the Gulf of Maine by looking through archives and surveying sailors, fisherman, and boat drivers. When the workshop ended, the students wanted to keep going. They named themselves in alliance with one of the world’s first whale illustrators, Larry Foster, who was running an organization called General Whale. And, so was born Allied Whale.
In 1974, COA student Kathy Hazard ’76, a member of the college’s first full class, helped start Allied Whale’s stranding network. Soon after, Scott Kraus ’77 started the North Atlantic Humpback Whale Catalog as his senior project. His photo-ID technique, which captured photos of the unique patterns seen on the flukes of whales, inspired and enabled whale research around the world. That former senior project is currently one of the largest international catalogs of photo-identified humpback and finback whales. The current iteration of Allied Whale encompasses the stranding program, maritime research, licensed use of the COA Edward McC. Blair Marine Research Station on Mount Desert Rock, skeletal articulations, necropsies, and the photo-ID catalogs. COA students are involved in all parts of Allied Whale, through independent research, coursework, work-study, internships, and more.
Through NOAA Fisheries, Allied Whale’s stranding program is obliged to respond to stranded marine mammals from Rockland to the Canadian border. The stranding program is also a part of the Greater Atlantic Regional Stranding Network, the Maine Strandings Collaborative, and works in conjunction with veterinary clinics, rehabilitation centers, and aquariums to help marine mammals.
When Allied Whale responds to a stranding in the field, the individuals who made the call—and any curious onlookers—learn about Allied Whale and their work. This process often sparks conversations about these animals, their role in the marine ecosystem, and environmental concerns such as climate change.
"We may not be able to directly impact the rising ocean temperatures or sea levels, but we can continue to educate the public about their potential impacts. What better way to emphasize these stories than by witnessing a stranded or deceased animal," said Laura Lyell, a retired nurse and dedicated Allied Whale volunteer for the last 15 years.
Allied Whale staff, volunteers, and work-study students wear the COA logo during stranding responses so bystanders understand they are authorized to handle the animal. It also lets others know who to call if they ever encounter a stranded marine mammal. Their visibility over the years has paid off—many now recognize the organization as the authority in these matters and know who to call when strandings do occur.
"One day Rosie and I decided that we were going to go for a little hike, it was my day off. We went to the Wonderland Trail because there was a report of a seal pup, so we thought it would be good to hike there to check it out. We assessed the pup, and decided we should bring him back. So we wrapped it in a towel and then were lugging this seal pup back along the trail,” said Allied Whale volunteer consultant veterinarian Dr. Carissa Bielamowicz. “Once we managed to get him back to the car and load him in, a young couple came up to us and let us know that there was a group called Allied Whale on the island who is really good at this sort of thing and they probably would not want you doing that… but you should contact them. Rosie and I started to laugh. We told them that we are Allied Whale… But, it was really great, we felt so good that they came up and they wanted to intervene, and that they were so knowledgeable about it already. We were like, oh my God, what we do does make a difference!"
Kraus' life's work has been connecting people to the wildlife around them, with the aim of supporting more ecologically caring decisions. Her teaching style is filled with real field experiences, such as taking her students with her to respond to a marine mammal stranding, or joining COA Steven K. Katona Chair in Marine Sciences Sean Todd, director of Allied Whale and professor of biology and marine mammalogy, to check out a beached whale with some of Allied Whale’s work-study students.
Because of Allied Whale and its volunteers, Kraus’ students at UMaine Machias and COA students are exposed to unique undergraduate opportunities, such as working with live marine mammals and learning from dead ones. Allied Whale conducts necropsies (autopsies) on marine mammals that they weren’t able to save or those that have washed up to shore dead. The goal of these necropsies is to find the cause of death, if possible (which is often elusive when necropsying wild animals with an unknown history), to gather data, collect samples for genetics, toxicology, and testing for certain diseases, and to better understand marine mammal populations and ecosystem health.
Most Allied Whale necropsies are co-led by Seton and volunteers Lyell and Dr. Edwin Barkdoll, a retired veterinarian. Interested students are encouraged to join and learn as the teaching trio takes students step by step through anatomy, organ physiology, data collection, photo-documentation, and safety in handling the surgical instruments. There is a focus on as much hands-on experience as possible, and as students acquire more knowledge and practice, the hope is that they can even lead necropsies themselves, Barkdoll said.
Dr. Edwin Barkdoll, left, and Laura Lyell examine a harbor porpoise before performing a necropsy (animal autopsy).
Anyone interested can attend the necropsies. Whole COA classes have even observed the process. Lyell, Barkdoll, and Seton have led necropsies in the lab sections of Todd's Marine Mammalogy course, and COA George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History Director Carrie Graham's course Zoological Field Sketching.
"The necropsies give my students very valuable opportunities to see and draw internal and external mammal anatomy," Graham said.
The first step of a necropsy is to do a careful walk-around and take photos of the animal to make sure that no evidence is overlooked. Then the dissection process begins. Necropsies on smaller animals, such as a seal pup, will usually take at least four hours. The larger the animal, the longer it takes, and more people are needed for a thorough analysis. “The primary goal is to find out why they died; secondary goal is teaching students,” Barkdoll explained.
For all strandings, Allied Whale is required by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA), to gather Level A (basic) data. This includes information such as location, species, condition, measurements, and what has been done with the animal. When it is difficult to bring an animal back to the lab, Allied Whale staff and volunteers will do the necropsy where the animal is found. “When that happens, it’s a great opportunity for educating the public because people almost always come up and ask questions. Some of the people who have attended an on-site necropsy will even become volunteers,” Barkdoll said.
Volunteers like Barkdoll bring energy, dynamism, and unique professional perspectives to Allied Whale’s work, and their presence adds a lot to the student experience.
"Edwin creates a welcoming, inclusive environment for learning, and integrates academic teaching and instructive moments seamlessly,” said Gordon Maguire ’26, an Allied Whale work-study student who first got involved as a volunteer. “I believe he has contributed to the growth and development of aspiring future marine scientists and activists. I’m very grateful for the guidance he has shown me and others at COA."
Allied Whale volunteers, while necessary for stranding response, are also making a huge impact as educators, enthusiastic and ready to teach anyone who wants to learn. Lyell and Barkdoll described teaching as the most rewarding part of their experience volunteering for Allied Whale.
“Having an opportunity to make even a small impact in a student's life is one of the reasons I continue to enjoy volunteering. I'm still quite curious about our natural world, and being around COA students sparks that curiosity even more," Lyell said. Over the years, she has worked one-on-one with a number of COA students, advising senior projects and lending guidance across various academic interests.
Dr. Carissa Bielamowicz Miller examines a harbor seal pup.
“It is a lot fun working with the students because they’re like sponges. They ask me questions that push me to be constantly learning as well. They teach me things probably as much as I teach them. And, that’s an enormously rewarding experience,” Barkdoll said.
Allied Whale’s longest-running volunteer is Anne McGhie, a retired pre-K and elementary school teacher who has been volunteering since 1990. She said that she feels gratified by sharing her love and knowledge of marine critters. Over the past 35 years, she has taught many children and adults, using slide shows of her photos from stranding response experiences, in the schools and organizations around where she lives in nearby Washington County. McGhie has brought her students out into the field, and her daughter, Nile, who grew up assisting with stranding events and necropsies, now works as a veterinarian.
“I’ve used photos and artifacts from my stranding volunteer experiences in my schools throughout my years in education. I have been invited to numerous public guest lecture opportunities. I’ve felt very blessed and very privileged to be able to serve in this way, to serve the animals and the community. There’s something so joyful about it,” McGhie expressed.
McGhie is one of several Allied Whale volunteers who bring their volunteer experiences to their classrooms. Seton encourages teachers to know they are allowed permits for marine mammal parts as educational tools. The North Haven Community School has been able to articulate several seal and whale skeletons thanks to one of their teachers who is also a volunteer.
Some Allied Whale volunteers, like Bielamowicz, also donate their time and expertise by giving lectures at the free stranding response training workshops that Allied Whale hosts twice a year. Bielamowicz has also helped teach COA students to conduct physical exams on seal pups and about marine mammal disease diagnostics.
Allied Whale provides several educational resources to the public, such as grade-specific at-home activities, curriculum ideas, podcast suggestions, and more, which can be found at coa.edu/alliedwhale.
Allied Whale has about 30 active volunteers, including students and alumni, and around 15 volunteers who dedicate a large amount of time to the organization. There are many, many others who generously offer their help. Allied Whale also comprises nine staff members and research associates, one faculty member, and approximately 14 work-study students (it varies every year).
Dr. Edwin Barkdoll, from left, Laura Lyell, Shreya Vinodh ’23, and summer intern Shannon Nielson examine a dead minke whale that live-stranded and died shortly after in Pulpit Harbor, Islesboro.
Along with the active volunteers, coastal residents in general have been really helpful with stranding responses over the years, Seton said, with assistance ranging from calling about a stranded animal to taking Allied Whale crew out on their personal boats to get to remote locations. Agencies, such as local police, harbor masters, park rangers, Maine Marine Patrol, and the Coast Guard have also been dedicated helpers to Allied Whale throughout the years.
Teamwork, as Silverman and her son proved with their long trip to Boston to save Zion, is critical to the stranding program. The network that Allied Whale has created and continues to expand encompasses a community of people coming together to protect individual animals, educate themselves and their neighbours, and care for the marine ecosystem.
“The volunteers and the wider community around Allied Whale are a very dedicated and ecologically cognizant group of people, who are willing of their time and resources to give back to the environment that we all love,” noted Bielamowicz.
Silverman and Olin, to their delight, were invited by the National Marine Life Center to Zion’s release. They drove back down to Massachusetts. It was a totally different kind of day, sunny and warm. They met with others in the parking lot of a protected marine sanctuary on Cape Cod. The volunteers and the rehab staff members followed a windy, narrow path to the beach, nobody making a noise.
“It opened up to the most gorgeous, sparkling uninhabited cove of tumbled rocks. They brought the seal crate down next to the water and let her out. Zion looked around not really knowing what to do,” Silverman recounted. “Then she sniffed the ocean, flopped down to the water and went in. She swam out a little bit, looked back. There were other seals in the water further out. She went under the water and then disappeared, and that was it.”
“It was a very impactful experience for both of us. It gave my son a sense of the kind of teamwork that’s involved, knowing that without all of these people wanting to do this, Zion would not have survived,” said Silverman. “To see her be able to go back to her habitat with such grace and ease, knowing she could go off on her own and make it in the world, was such a relief and so gratifying. I felt so honored to be given the chance to be around this precious creature.”
All photos credit COA Allied Whale.
Allied Whale volunteers perform an external exam and measurements on a fin whale that live-stranded in the Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge while nearby residents look on. The bones would be salvaged a year later and slated for rearticulation (see image on page 38).
Support for Allied Whale
Allied Whale is able to continue its education, conservation, and marine mammal rescue efforts thanks to the support of key organizational donors and foundations, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Bar Harbor Whale Watch, Maine Beer Company, Maine Coast Sea Vegetables, Baird Foundation, Marisla Foundation, Michele & Agnese Cestone Foundation, and Davis Conservation Foundation.
Maine Beer Company (MBC), has contributed over $113,000 to Allied Whale since 2009. In response to federal funding cuts in 2024, MBC doubled their donation to help cover the gap and encouraged their audience to support the program as well. Their flagship beer, Lunch, is named after a finback whale identified by Allied Whale. With a motto, “Do what’s right,” MBC prioritizes ethical decision-making in everything they do—from employee treatment to environmental responsibility.
Steve Mills, CEO of MBC, shared, “Allied Whale has been part of our nonprofit giving plan since the day we learned about their important work. Being only one of the few, elite organizations in Maine that is authorized to respond to marine mammal emergencies is a testament to their leadership and expertise in this field and certainly worthy of our support.”
Bar Harbor Whale Watch (BHWW), another loyal long-term partner with COA Allied Whale, has co-created internship, research, and educational opportunities for many COA students throughout the years. In 2024, they generously pledged $100,000 to fully fund COA Allied Whale’s stranding program for 2025, ensuring its continued operation. Each summer, four interns are given the opportunity to train in diverse marine mammal research activities with Allied Whale while also serving as crew members and scientists on commercial whale-watching trips out of Bar Harbor. COA alumni like Julie Taylor ’06, lead naturalist at BHWW, have taken on leadership roles in the organization. Committed to whale conservation and education, BHWW has provided $20,000 annually to COA Allied Whale for many years.
Scott R. MacKenzie is an individual donor to COA Allied Whale who has transformed the photo identification program over the past 10 years. To learn more about Scott, please read his profile following this story.
Many other committed donors who care about ocean conservation and marine mammal protection support COA Allied Whale in amounts ranging from $10 to $5,000 each year.
