Animals

A proposed slow zone for ferries, ships and large boats along the U.S. East Coast has been scrapped, after months of heated criticism from Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and other coastal communities. Whale conservationists lamented the move as a major loss, saying the federal proposal was a “much needed” effort to protect critically endangered North Atlantic right whales from extinction.

Coyotes mate during the winter months. That increases the chances of dangerous run-ins with dogs and cats.

That record partially reflects a day in June when IFAW responded to the largest mass stranding of dolphins in recorded U.S. history.

The birds were rehabbed for about a month and returned by New England Wildlife Center.

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is calling on residents to report sightings of the New England cottontail, an endangered species of rabbit, as part of its restoration efforts.

Staff and volunteers with Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary have rescued around 800 stranded sea turtles from Cape Cod beaches this year. That’s about 130 more than last year.

The endangered right whales' median age at death is about 22. Southern right whales, a closely related species, generally live into their seventies. The difference? Southern whales aren’t facing entanglements in fishing gear and boat collisions at the same rate.

A 3-year-old male, seen southeast of Nantucket with lines wrapped across his head and back, is unlikely to survive. An adult female with ropes hanging from her mouth was sighted in the same area. Altogether, seven entangled right whales have been spotted along the East Coast.

Researchers say they don’t know why three whales died in such a short time period, but the deaths are unrelated.

The New Hampshire SPCA found itself suddenly caring for more than 850 mice and small rats last month. It’s hoping to find homes for the remaining critters this weekend.