

The right tools make carving a breeze! For cutting out pieces, those pumpkin carving kits with the little saws are a dream.Smoothing the inside instead of leaving it rough is also said to extend the life of a jack-o’-lantern, delaying decay. You can prolong the life of the carved pumpkin by applying a thin coat of vaseline to the cut/carved areas and/or store it in the fridge.Thin-walled pumpkins tend to have thin stems while thick-walled pumpkins tend to have thick stems. Generally, the thickness of the stem directly relates to the thickness of the wall of the pumpkin.Those with the greenest stems were harvested most recently and will last longer. Picking the right pumpkin: you want to pick pumpkins with green stems.
PUMPKIN OUTLINE SKIN
Pumpkin skin is tough and scoring it makes it easier to remove that tough top layer. If you have fairly large areas that you're carving away, score the skin of the pumpkin with a bunch of "x" or hash patterns using a knife and then use your carving tool(s) to shave away the pumpkin skin.
PUMPKIN OUTLINE PRO
It’s also led to the recovery of several populations, including gray seals, California sea lions, gray whales, and humpback whales.ĭownload the humpback whale stencil Pro Tips Since the Act was enacted, declines of many marine mammal populations have slowed. Because marine mammals are vital to the balance of marine ecosystems and are key indicators of the overall ocean health, it’s important that we protect and conserve them. What better way to celebrate that milestone than with a humpback whale jack-o’-lantern? Congress passed the Marine Mammal Protection Act in 1972 in response to growing concerns over significant declines of a number of marine mammal species. October 21 marks the 50th anniversary of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. If you’re planning a trip to see Bubba and Kitt and our other aquarium residents, be sure to check our website, Facebook, and Twitter for the most up to date information about hours of operation, closures, and more. Kitt is playful, inquisitive, and a total ball of energy. Bubba is a true gentle giant, very tolerant, laid back, and just goes with the flow. While they’ve been settling in at our aquarium, their personalities have really developed. Another reason to celebrate harbor seals in 2022: the return of harbor seals to our Woods Hole Science Aquarium! After 5 long years, in 2022 we welcomed two harbor seals named Bubba and Kitt. Harbor seals, like all marine mammals, are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act-an act that celebrates its 50th anniversary on October 21, 2022.

They’re commonly seen resting on rocks and beaches with their head and rear flippers elevated into a banana-like shape. Scientists from our Apex Predators Program were notified and quickly headed to its location so they could collect tissue samples to better understand the genetics, habitat use, diet, age range, and reproduction of this species.ĭownload the common thresher shark stencil This is known as the “fish trap effect” and it may have been what happened to one unfortunate juvenile male that washed up on Cape Cod in February 2022. This can happen during the winter months when they get trapped in shallow areas as the tide rolls out and temperatures drop.

Thresher sharks can tolerate cold temperatures, but they’re not immune to cold shock. The farthest tagged common thresher shark during that time was a female caught within the English Channel off the Isle of Wight, England, in July 2020.Īnother opportunity to collect shark data is when they wash ashore. She was caught off Montauk, New York, in September 2019. The largest common thresher shark tagged during that time was a female measuring about 14 feet long. In more recent years, between 20, 31 common thresher sharks were tagged through our program. It is a collaborative citizen science effort that engages thousands of recreational and commercial fishers. It’s the longest continuous shark tagging program in the world, started in 1962. One of the ways we learn about the life history of common thresher sharks is through our Cooperative Shark Tagging Program. Our Apex Predators Program conducts life history research and long-term monitoring activities essential for the assessment and management of this species. What’s really fascinating is how they use their long caudal fin like a whip to stun fish while hunting for food. Their long sickle-shaped caudal fin is one of the most distinguishing characteristics of thresher sharks. While they can grow to about 18 feet long, about half of their total length is all fin. In the northwest Atlantic Ocean, they range from Newfoundland to Cuba. Common thresher sharks are found in temperate waters around the world.
