Latest news with #Quillian
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
ODFW removes elephant seal from popular Oregon beach ahead of spring break
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's Marine Mammal Program captured and relocated an elephant seal pup that was resting at Neskowin's South Beach on March 19. Experts moved the elephant seal pup to a less popular beach, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife spokesperson Beth Quillian told KOIN. Sub-adult elephant seals, she said, inhabit Oregon beaches in the spring and summer and will molt and rest on the same beach for days or weeks at a time. 'The elephant seal was relocated to a more remote location to prevent disturbance from people,' Quillian said. 'We are not sharing the new location so that the seal remains undisturbed.' Killer whale pod makes rare appearance in Depoe Bay during Whale Watch Week The elephant seal pup arrived on Neskowin's South Beach late afternoon on February 24. The next day he moved to North Beach Neskowin and settled in on the cove next to Hawk Creek until March 19th. Marine Mammal Stranding Network volunteers Candice and Gregory Miller told KOIN that the elephant seal pup arrived in the area on Feb. 24 and ultimately settled near Hawk Creek. While elephant seal pups typically practice swimming and hunting before heading out into the ocean, this seal pup was practicing in the nearby creek. 'As is the pattern with elephant seal pups, they are weaned by their mother for 30 days,' the Millers said. 'After the weaning they spend the next two to three months fasting while going out to the ocean practicing their skills of swimming, diving, holding their breath and foraging for food. What was unique in this case was we don't get elephant seals here in Neskowin. Also this little pup, although practicing his skills, was practicing in the creek rather than the ocean.' Kotek: Feds holding up disaster money 'despite court orders' With spring break approaching, Jim Rice, the director for OSU Marine Mammal Stranding Network, and ODFW worked to relocate the elephant seal pup to a more suitable beach. Beachgoers are prohibited from touching any stranded marine mammals like seals, sea lions, whales or dolphins. If a marine mammal is spotted on the beach, beachgoers can report the animal to the Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network by calling or texting (541) 270-6830. 'Spring is the season when young wildlife are abundant in the landscape,' Quillian said. 'If you come across a young animal alone, it doesn't mean that it needs to be rescued. The best thing to do is leave it where you found it. Please leave wildlife wild. If you come across an animal that appears sick or injured, report to OSP or ODFW.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Yahoo
Westminster community mourns loss of Coach Gary Jones after body recovered from Lake Oconee
Heartbreak and grief, that's the feeling of the community where Gary Jones taught and coached. Jones' body was found in Lake Oconee Sunday afternoon, where he disappeared more than a month ago. Channel 2′s Candace McCowan was at Westminster Schools, where Jones taught and coached, after speaking to the families he impacted. At the school on Monday, they held a prayer in Jones' honor, but the parents said they couldn't let the opportunity pass without letting the world know what his impact on the students was. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] 'I remember last year, my 10th graders were all in a flurry sometime in the late winter, early spring, about baking cookies. They wanted to bake cookies and take them to Gary Jones' class for his birthday,' parent Christine Quillian told McCowan. Quillian had three daughters in Jones' physics class at Westminster. He taught and coached at the private school for more than 20 years. For the students in his classroom, he was special. Quillian's daughter sent her a text about Jones last night reading 'First semester physics exam, he wrote on the front page of the exam 'The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord makes his face shine upon you and to be at peace.'' TRENDING STORIES: Body of beloved teacher found a month after vanishing on Lake Oconee Sheriff says despite speculation, he believes missing teacher is still in Lake Oconee Lake Oconee search: Channel 2 gets exclusive look at equipment being used to find missing teacher Wallet, credit cards found in boat of teacher who vanished on Lake Oconee Search crews say it could be weeks before locating coach missing in Lake Oconee Family of teacher who vanished on Lake Oconee releases statement 'My daughter said, 'you know, that just gave me so much comfort,'' Quillian said. Jones and his fiancée Joycelyn Wilson disappeared on Lake Oconee on Feb. 8. For search crews, investigators and Jones' family, the past month has been grueling, but it's also been hard for the young students whose minds he'd shaped over the years. His disappearance taught them a final lesson, on grief. 'It's a process, there's some laughs and some tears,' Quillian said. Another student shared a Net Force award he received, signed by Jones, for sustained outstanding effort. It's an award they want search crews to know they deserve. 'There's been so much strength and effort to find him,' Quillian said. 'Not wanting to leave him behind and not wanting to leave him alone.'' Those students have even visited Lake Oconee multiple times to show their appreciation for the search. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
