Lucky
Lucky was reported trapped in Mud Lake, just east of the Louisiana line in Cameron Parish, LA. Mud lake is a shallow (2-3 feet) boggy-bottom horseshoe-shaped body of water that is separated from the Gulf of Mexico by a small two lane highway and a few yards of beach. The total area of the lake was estimated at 2-3 square miles.
Lucky was first reported in November 2008 to the TMMSN, but had no doubt been trapped in Mud Lake since the storm surge Hurricane Ike brought to shore in September of 2008. After the first report, the TMMSN responded by airboat, and surveyed the lake for several hours but was unable to spot Lucky. A second survey shortly thereafter by mudboat proved a little more productive, and Lucky was spotted surfacing near the boat and by a garbage dumpster that settled in the lake due to the storm. However, at that time the fog was very dense, with only about 10-15 feet of visibility, so photographs were not taken, and it was probably only by chance that we happened to see Lucky. (Or his interest in what we were doing drew him to us.)A third survey by the Audubon Society of New Orleans yielded similar results, with Lucky being spotted only briefly in the dense fog.
After a thorough examination of the topography, and the area around Mud Lake, it was determined that Lucky would not be able to escape back to the Gulf of Mexico on his own. It was noted during the surveys that there was an abundance of fish in Mud Lake, and the consensus of all professionals involved was that Lucky was eating fish and able to meet his caloric needs until we could organize a large scale rescue attempt for this large body of water, and a rescue effort was arranged for March 17, 2009 (St. Patrick's day). The rescue effort consisted of four main parties: The Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network, the Louisiana Marine Mammal Stranding Network (Audubon Society), the National Marine Fisheries Agency from Florida, and Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries. A fifth party contractor was also involved to assist with the capture of Lucky in this large body of water.
Rescue day was a little colder than expected, but it was fairly clear and the cold front held back the fog. Based on previous sightings, the search for Lucky began around the same garbage dumpster where he had been spotted before. Support boats fanned out and approached the site, and within 15 minutes Lucky was spotted. The net was deployed, and Lucky was safely surrounded by the net within the next 15-20 minutes. Experienced personnel then entered the water and safely captured Lucky by hand so that neither the animal or people were injured or caught in the nets.
After loading Lucky onto a flat-bottom mudboat, he was transported back to the boat dock for examination by the Audubon Society veterinarian. After a thorough external examination, and analysis of blood with the mobile blood analyzer, Lucky was deemed fit for release. He was transferred to the TMMSN rescue truck and we made the short (1/4 mile) trip to the beach where Lucky was successfully and uneventfully released.
We want to thank the TMMSN volunteers, the LMMSN staff and volunteers, Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, Apache oil company (owners of the land), and NMFS for their support and assistance in the rescue.