Rescue

On an average year, the Northcoast Marine Mammal Center rescues between 30 and 60 stranded marine mammals per year. The NMMC has rescued 732 marine mammals since 1988, and has rescued over 100 animals per year during 2009 and 2010. The most common patients at the Center have been California sea lions, which have accounted for 39% of all rescues between 1988 – 2009. Pacific harbor seals have been the second most commonly rescued marine mammal and account for 35% of rescues, followed by Northern elephant seals (23%). Other species that the Center has rescued include Northern fur seals, Steller sea lions, and Guadalupe fur seals. Steller sea lions and Guadalupe fur seals are both listed as “Threatened” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Northern fur seals are designated as “Depleted” under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

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Current Rescues

Scoobie

Animal Name: Scoobie
Admit Date: 07/30/12
Admit Weight: 32 lbs
Current Weight:
Released Date:
Progress Notes: Scoobie is a Pacific harbor seal pup who was rescued from Pebble Beach in Crescent City, near the Oceanfront Lodge.  She was found with apparent infected wounds, and was underweight.  Since she has all of her teeth, we have been working to assist feed her small fish instead of tube-feeding formula, like we would with younger pups.

 

 

America

Animal Name: America
Admit Date: 07/03/12
Admit Weight: 94 lbs
Current Weight:
Released Date:
Progress Notes: America is a weaned elephant seal who was rescued from Enderts Beach in Crescent City. He came in underweight, and has a large wound on his front left flipper which could have possibly been from a boat propeller. Since coming in the wound has been cleaned and stitched up, and America is now learning to eat fish on his own.

 

 

Q

Animal Name: Q
Admit Date: 6/09/12
Admit Weight: 65 lbs
Current Weight:
Released Date:
Progress Notes:  Q is a California sea lion who was rescued from Bay Street Beach in Samoa. He was brought in because he was lethargic, had trouble with his hind flipper movement, and also had a large abscess on his back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ollie

Animal Name: Ollie
Admit Date: 6/05/12
Admit Weight: 17 lbs
Current Weight:
Released Date:
Progress Notes: Ollie is a Pacific Harbor seal pup who was rescued from Indian Beach in Trinidad.  She was brought in with puncture wounds to both of her rear flippers, as well as her right front flipper, most likely caused by a dog attack.  After arriving at the Center, we x-rayed her back flippers and learned that they are also broken.

 

 

 

 

 

Skipper

Animal Name: Skipper
Admit Date: 5/18/12
Admit Weight: 83 lbs
Current Weight:116 lbs
Released Date:
Progress Notes: Skipper is an endangered Stellar sea lion who was picked up at Point St. George in Crescent City.  He was brought in with severe head trauma, and was bleeding from the mouth.  He was not expected to make it, however after several days of care he is gaining strength and is doing much better.

Previous Rescues

Scratchy

Animal Name: Scratchy
Admit Date: 6/17/12
Admit Weight: 98 lbs
Current Weight: 173 lbs
Released Date: July 29, 2012
Progress Notes: Scratchy is a weaned elephant seal who was rescued from Bunker Hill Road Beach in Samoa. He was brought in because he was underweight.  Scratchy was successfully rehabilitated and released on July 29, 2012 at Pebble Beach in Crescent City.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Suroth

Animal Name: Suroth
Admit Date: 5/27/12
Admit Weight: 104 lbs
Current Weight: 160 lbs
Released Date: 07/01/12

Progress Notes: Suroth is a weaned elephant seal who was restranded from The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito.  She was picked up at Hostel Beach just north of Klamath, underweight and lethargic. Suroth was released on July 1st, on Pebble Beach in Crescent City.

 

 

 

Wilson

Animal Name: Wilson
Admit Date: 5/12/12
Admit Weight: 20.5 lbs
Current Weight: 74 lbs
Released Date: July 29, 2012
Progress Notes: Wilson is a Pacific harbor seal pup who was picked up on Wilson Creek Beach because he “appeared” to be abandoned. It is completely normal for pups to left on the beach while the mother goes out to forge for food. It is important NOT to pick up any marine mammal; it is highly illegal. Please call North Coast Marine Mammal Center first!!

Wilson was released with Bongela and Georgia on July 29 on Pebble beach in Crescent City.

 

 

Bongela

Animal Name: Bongela
Admit Date: 5/8/12
Admit Weight: 18 lbs
Current Weight: 51 lbs
Released Date: July 29, 2012
Progress Notes: Bongela is a Pacific harbor seal pup who was picked up on Indian beach in Trinidad because he had severe lacerations and punctures to his face, and his breathing was labored.  Bongela had been attacked by a dog, and is a good example of why dogs should be leashed on beaches where seal pups are found.  Bongela’s face healed well, and he was released on July 29th with Wilson and Georgia.

 

 

Sully

Animal Name: Sully
Admit Date: 4/16/12
Admit Weight:12.9 lbs
Current Weight: N/A
Released Date:
Progress Notes:  Sully is a Pacific harbor seal pup who was originally seen on a private beach in Manila.  He was taken to the Center after some well-meaning citizens had taken him home for a couple of days and tried to feed him using goats milk, which is not the ideal food for harbor seal pups. He also seems too habituated to humans.

Unfortunately, Sully had an umbilical infection and he passed away after several days of treatment.

 

Gunther

Animal Name: Gunther
Admit Date: 4/14/12
Admit Weight:23.5 lbs
Current Weight: N/A
Released Date: 07/01/12
Progress Notes: Gunther is a Pacific harbor seal pup who was found on the mud flats of Arcata marsh, and was rescued because he appeared to be stranded in the mud and had some eye discharge.

Gunther was successfully rehabilitated, and was released on July 1st with Shaggy and Ranger.

 

 

Georgia

Animal Name: Georgia
Admit Date: 4/14/12
Admit Weight:13 lbs
Current Weight: 51 lbs
Released Date: July 29, 2012
Progress Notes:
Georgia is a Pacific harbor seal pup who was observed for more than 12 hours at Samoa beach, and was brought in to the Center because she was barely responsive and had pale gums.  She was successfully rehabilitated, and was released on July 29th along with Wilson and Bongela.

 

 

 

Rascal

Animal Name: Rascal
Admit Date: 4/10/12
Admit Weight:26 lbs
Current Weight: N/A
Released Date:
Progress Notes:
Rascal is an endangered Guadalupe fur seal, who re-stranded from The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito.  He was rescued at Powerline Beach in Arcata because he was skinny, lethargic, and following people and dogs.

Update: Rascal was transferred back to The Marine Mammal Center on April 14, where he will undergo further rehabilitation before he will be released. He will be paired up with another Guadalupe fur seal at The Marine Mammal Center, and the two will be released at the same time.

 

 

 

 

Nautica

Animal Name: Nautica
Admit Date: 4/7/12
Admit Weight:14 lbs
Current Weight: N/A
Released Date:

Progress Notes:
Our first female Pacific harbor seal pup of the season, Nautica was rescued from Table Bluff beach in Humboldt County.  Volunteers kept watch on her for three days, before bringing her in due to deteriorating health and slight dehydration.

Update:  Unfortunately Nautica passed away on April 16th, as a result of infection from bite wounds she sustained prior to rescue.

Houston

Animal Name: Houston
Admit Date: 4/4/12
Admit Weight: 31lbs
Current Weight: N/A
Released Date: 06/23/12

Progress Notes:
California sea lion yearling, rescued outside the Chart Room Restaurant in Crescent City because he was underweight and lethargic.