A sea animal save center within Morro Bay says it is in urgent want of new volunteers.
The Marine Mammal Center’s Morro Bay field office is looking to train 25 to 30 brand new volunteers before elephant seal pups arrive on the Central Coast in early 2023.
An injured sea otter nursed back in order to health was recently released back into the wild at Avila Beach.
The otter, affectionately named Spinny made a triumphant return to the particular ocean on November 10 th .
“Our mission will be really global ocean conservation and I think that’s a mission that speaks to a lot of people, ” said San Luis Obispo Operations Coordinator Shayla Zink.
The Sausalito-based Marine Mammal center is usually the largest ocean animal hospital in the world, and their Morro Gulf field office plays an important role in helping injured marine life. “We are kind associated with a triage center, so we bring them here and give them immediate help under the guidance of the vet staff that’s up at Sausalito, ” said volunteer Holly Weir.
The latest rescue happened Tuesday in Avila Seaside when the sea lion was found with a deep gash in one of its flippers.
Volunteers say it’s easy to become attached to the animals they rescue.
“They have personalities. I remember a lot of them, ” said Weir. “I keep in mind the first elephant seal We restrained thus I could tube feed him—his name was Donkey. ”
The particular Marine Mammal Center is looking in order to train dozens of new volunteers prior to elephant close off pupping season begins from San Simeon.
“They spend about four weeks with their own mom and then mom leaves and they have to figure out how to be seals all by themselves, ” said Zn (symbol).
The center sees a sharp uptick in rescues from late December through February as elephant seal off pups are usually thrown out into the real world.
“Some of them don’t do so well plus that’s when we step within, ” explains Zink.
The center is now looking for volunteers to fill a wide variety of roles.
“If part of it seems intimidating, there are other roles, ” said Weir. “Some people don’t like to do rescues although most of us love to perform rescues. People can just do pet care; we need transport drivers.
The particular Marine Mammal Center will be recruiting volunteers right now and orientation day is definitely on January 14 th .
Volunteers typically work one shift per week ranging from six hours during the particular day in order to three hrs at night.
The center can be accepting applications through December 1 st .