MidnightWatcher – Prophecy in Motion

“HAMPTON BEACH, N.H. — Investigators said they still don’t know what caused the deaths of dozens of seals and seabirds that have been found along the New Hampshire seacoast in the past several days.

Marine biologist Ellen Goethel, vice chairwoman of Hampton’s Conservation Commission, said Tuesday that she first spotted multiple seals and seabirds dead on Hampton’s North Side Park Beach last Wednesday.

Goethel said she called the New England Aquarium, as well as state and federal officials. She said NOAA, the state Fish and Game Department and the Department of Environmental Services were investigating, along with the aquarium.

Goethel said NOAA and the state are testing the waters in the area.

The New England Aquarium said that as of Monday afternoon, 15 seals had been found dead along the New Hampshire coast since last week.

The aquarium said autopsies were performed on the three latest seal carcasses found, and samples of the animals have been sent out for testing, but it appeared the animals had ‘adequate blubber layers,’ and it did not appear that the animals died because of ‘a failure to thrive.’  Aquarium officials said the federal government is testing area waters for algae or bacteria, and they were testing the animals for any viruses.

Ten seals have been found dead in Rye, four in Hampton and one in Seabrook. Goethel said that in addition, less than a dozen dead seals have been found dead along the southern Maine coast.” Read more.