Students from the William Floyd Middle School Animal Science Club, advised by Kyle Maurelli, recently participated in an adopted rescue harbor seal release project that took place over the course of this school year! This project, to rehabilitate and release "Floyd," was part of a collaboration between WFMS, industry partner Canon and the New York Marine Rescue Center (NYMRC) in Riverhead.

Mr. Maurelli and Animal Science Club members participated in numerous live and virtual meetings throughout the year with a senior biologist from the NYMRC to discuss local environmental issues contributing to problems that native marine mammals, such as seals and sea turtles, are facing on our shores. Additionally, these meetings gave students a closer look into the process of rescue and rehabilitation for marine mammals and sea turtles.

After attending the meetings, the students became involved in numerous hands-on activities related to the subject of marine mammal and sea turtle conservation. One of these activities included a “River Walk Cleanup,” where students collected five pounds worth of littered trash from the Peconic River in Riverhead to help the river’s ecosystem. Students also visited NYMRC at the Long Island Aquarium to learn about what goes into a successful mammal rehabilitation effort through a behind-the-scenes tour of their facility. While there, the students met Floyd!

This program culminated on May 20 with a special event held at Tiana Beach in the Hampton Bays in which the public gathered to see Floyd released back into the ocean after completing his rehabilitation. Floyd re-entered the ocean successfully and was fitted with a satellite tag so the NYMRC and Animal Science Club students can track his movements throughout the months following his release. To conclude this project, the students wrote and illustrated a fictional storybook from the perspective of Floyd, highlighting the journey of his rescue, rehabilitation and release. The book will be published with the help of Canon and sold to raise money for future marine mammal rescue!

Special thanks to the NYMRC and Canon for supporting the WFMS Animal Science Club in this truly unique and worthwhile learning experience!

Click here to see a News 12 report on Floyd's release!