Volunteers for Seal-Pupping Season Needed at Marine Mammal Center

MARIN COUNTY, CA – The Marine Mammal Center is looking for volunteers to help one day a week during the current elephant and Pacific harbor pupping season.

The seals are giving birth to eight to 10 animals a day along the 600-mile range between Mendocino and San Luis Obispo counties on the central and northern California coast.

The Marine Mammal Center, located in the Marin Headlands in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, needs animal care volunteers at its main hospital on Fridays between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. for a minimum of six
months.

Transport drivers also are needed to pick up and drive rescued mammal patients from the Monterey Bay Operations facility in Moss Landing to the hospital for rehabilitation.

As of 9 a.m. Wednesday, there were 93 elephant seals and 10 California sea lions as patients at the Marine Mammal Center.

The Marine Mammal Center will provide all the necessary training so volunteers can make an immediate difference.

"Volunteers help us rescue and rehabilitate sick and injured marine mammals, educate the public about ocean conservation and so much more," the organization said. To volunteer, email volunteer@tmmc.org. More details here.

The Marine Mammal Center also needs volunteers for its revived Fish Kitchen Support. Members of the public can volunteer in the fish kitchen without advanced training. A long-term commitment is not required.

"Adults and youth ages 15 to 17 can sign up to volunteer in our fish kitchen for a three- or four-hour shift. This allows our regular, trained animal care volunteers to spend more time in the pens providing patient care," the organization said. "Fish Kitchen Support volunteers assist with the daily tasks such as dishwashing, kitchen cleaning, fish sorting, and food preparation." Details here.

The Marin Mammal Center has rescued and treated more than 20,000 marine mammals since 1975.

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--Bay City News contributed to this report/Image courtesy of The Marine Mammal Center