ABC7: You Might Be Unintentionally Harming Young Marine Mammals, Rescue Center Says
- Behavior
- Natural history
Published by ABC7: April 25, 2024
Juvenile seals and sea lions have no trouble making themselves heard. But deciphering the traumatic events that landed them at the Marine Mammal Center Hospital in Sausalito takes some detective work.
"So each springtime we see a lot of young seals and sea lions needing the Marine Mammal Center's help," said conservation engagement director Adam Ratner. "So they're being separated from mom prematurely. Layered on top of that is that there are lots of animals out on the beach and a lot of people out on the beaches as well."
He added that they are often alone and vulnerable when they're rescued.
They are also victims of human interaction that's both unintentional and preventable.
Yes, I want to save a life!
Yes, I want to save a life!
You’ll be giving sick and injured animals the best possible care at the Center’s state-of-the-art hospital. With your gift today, you are giving a patient a second chance at life in the wild.
See Our Latest News
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Other species\/cropped-images\/two-seals-playing-shutterstock-250-0-3211-2510-1602631793.jpg","alt":"two seals playing on a beach","title":"Top Eco Friendly Father\u2019s Day Gifts that Give Back","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/eco-friendly-fathers-day-gifts-that-give-back","label":"News Update","date":"2024-05-07 02:00:00"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/California sea lion\/cropped-images\/pier-39-shutterstock-10-0-4328-3380-1604430869.jpg","alt":"sea lions at PIER 39","title":"NPR: A Seafood Bounty Lures Sea Lions to S.F.'s PIER 39 in Numbers Not Seen in 15 Years","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/npr-a-seafood-bounty-lures-sea-lions-to-sfs-pier-39-in-numbers-not-seen-in-15-years","label":"In the News","date":"2024-05-04 02:00:00"}
NPR: A Seafood Bounty Lures Sea Lions to S.F.'s PIER 39 in Numbers Not Seen in 15 Years
May 4, 2024
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/California sea lions\/2023\/cropped-images\/csl-thunder-photo-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-214-50-2868-2240-1713984238.jpg","alt":"California sea lion Thunder","title":"30 Percent of Patients in 2023 Experienced Some Form of Human or Dog Disturbance","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/30-percent-of-patients-in-2023-experienced-some-form-of-human-or-dog-disturbance","label":"Press Release","date":"2024-04-24 02:00:00"}
30 Percent of Patients in 2023 Experienced Some Form of Human or Dog Disturbance
April 24, 2024
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Harbor seals\/2024\/cropped-images\/hs-sandia-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-313-14-4124-3222-1713562157.jpg","alt":"A newborn seal pup with a fluffy lanugo coat looks up. ","title":"Pupping Season Spotlight: Caring for an Orphaned Harbor Seal Pup","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/pupping-season-spotlight-caring-for-an-orphaned-harbor-seal-pup","label":"Patient Update","date":"2024-04-22 02:00:00"}
Pupping Season Spotlight: Caring for an Orphaned Harbor Seal Pup
April 22, 2024
Read Morenatural history
Adam Ratner
Giancarlo Rulli
Harbor Seal
Northern Elephant Seal
California Sea Lion