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

Sully

Animal Name: Sully
Admit Date: 4/16/12
Admit Weight:12.9 lbs
Current Weight: N/A
Released Date:
Progress Notes:  Sully 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.

 

 

Gunther

Animal Name: Gunther
Admit Date: 4/14/12
Admit Weight:23.5 lbs
Current Weight: N/A
Released Date:
Progress Notes: Gunther 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.

 

 

 

Georgia

Animal Name: Georgia
Admit Date: 4/14/12
Admit Weight:13 lbs
Current Weight: N/A
Released Date:
Progress Notes:
Georgia 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.

 

 

 

Houston

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

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

 

 

 

 

 

Shaggy

Animal Name: Shaggy
Admit Date: 3/24/2012
Admit Weight: 15.5 lbs
Current Weight: N/A
Released Date:

Progress Notes:
Pacific Harbor Seal pup, rescued at South Jettty in Humboldt Bay because he was in a bad location and did not look well.

 

 

Ranger

Animal Name: Ranger
Admit Date: 3/24/2012
Admit Weight: 16.5 lbs
Current Weight: N/A
Released Date:

Progress Notes:
First Pacific Harbor Seal pup of the season.  Rescued in Loleta at the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge because he was in a bad location and there was no sign of his mother.

 

 

Patty

Animal Name: Patty
Admit Date: 3/18/12
Admit Weight: 67 lbs
Current Weight: N/A
Released Date:

Progress Notes:
Northern Elephant Seal – Rescued from Trinidad in Humboldt County, because she was underweight.

 

 

Little Foot

Animal Name: Little Foot
Admit Date: 2/9/12
Admit Weight: 34 lbs
Current Weight: N/A
Released Date: 3/24/12

Progress Notes:
California Sea Lion – Rescued from Matrole Road south of Ferndale in Humboldt County. He is a male, yearling and weighs 34 lbs. and is 95 cm. He was brought in because he was severely underweight.  Little Foot was successfully released at Pebble Beach in Crescent City on March 24, 2012.

Update: Littlefoot is back! He showed up on somebody’s front porch not far from his release site, and was brought back to the Center.  He had lost some weight, so we are keeping him until he reaches a healthy weight again. He is currently rooming with Houston, our other small California sea lion, in an effort to discourage them both from getting too habituated to humans. They will be released together.

 

Ditka

Animal Name: Ditka
Admit Date: 1/26/12
Admit Weight: 78 lbs
Current Weight: 94 lbs
Released Date:

Progress Notes:
California Sea Lion – Ditka was rescued from Moonstone Beach in Humboldt County. He is a male and a re-strand from the Marine Marin Mammal Center in Marin, CA. He is a yearling weighing 78 lbs. and is 125 cm long. He was brought in because he had a swollen flipper and was in a bad location meaning too close to people.

 

Previous Rescues

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.

Kellen

Animal Name: Kellen
Admit Date: 4/1/2012
Admit Weight: 11.5 lbs
Current Weight: N/A
Released Date: N/A

Progress Notes:
Pacific Harbor Seal pup, rescued at Manila Beach. Had been observed for seven days, rescued because his mother had not been seen in 24 hours and he was lethargic and not vocal, and his condition was declining.

Update: Unfortunately Kellen passed away on April 9, 2012, due to severe pneumonia.  Tissue samples are being sent away for further analysis.

 

Unicorn (No Picture)

Animal Name: Unicorn
Admit Date: 9/5/11
Admit Weight: N/A
Current Weight: N/A
Release Date: 12/24/11

Progress Notes:
California Sea Lion – Infection

 

 

 

Thurkle (No Picture)

Animal Name: Thurkle
Admit Date: 7/9/11
Admit Weight: N/A
Current Weight: N/A
Release Date: 9/17/11

Progress Notes:
Northern Elephant Seal – Underweight

 

 

 

Dave

Animal Name: Dave
Admit Date: 6/22/11
Admit Weight: N/A
Current Weight: N/A
Released Date: 7/30/11

Progress Notes:
California Sea Lion – Eye Injury

 

 

 

 

Oden

Animal Name: Oden
Admit Date: 12/10/10
Admit Weight: N/A
Current Weight: N/A
Date Released: 1/22/11

Progress Notes:
Northern Elephant Seal – Underweight

 

 

 

 

Rasputin

Animal Name: Rasputin
Admit Date: 5/29/11
Admit Weight: 63lbs
Current Weight: 70lbs
Release Date: N/A

Progress Notes:
Male-California Sea Lion Subadult-Found on the Samoa Dunes, Humboldt County-Rasputin was emaciated when found, but is recovering nicely.

 

 

 

Nikki

Animal Name: Nikki
Admit Date: 4/30/11
Admit Weight: 18.5lbs
Current Weight: 27lbs
Release Date: 7/30/11

Progress Notes:
Female-Harbor Seal Pup-Found on the Arcata Mud Flats, Humboldt County-Animal was seizing and needed immediate attention- She’s doing fine now.

 

Leia

Animal Name: Leia
Admit Date: 4/20/11
Admit Weight: 18lbs
Current Weight: 26lbs
Release Date: 7/30/11

Progress Notes:
Female- Harbor Seal Pup-Found on Humboldt Bay, Humboldt Counte-Animal was abandoned by her mother and is recovering nicely.