web powered by 
Home 
News Local News 4 freed; more arrive
4 freed; more arrive
‘We’re up to our ankles in sea lions’ Workers carry a harbor seal toward its new home at sea Saturday morning. The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson Seamus, Precilla, Bloo and Neptuna all readily swam into the sea behind the Hampton Inn at the end of A Street. Some were even released by the people who found them stranded and suffering on beaches in Del Norte and Humboldt counties. “This is the first time we’ve invited the public out,” said center Director Monica Hiner. “This is really great — look at this turnout.” Hiner said normally the public is not notified of a release, but she wanted to increase awareness of the high number of stranded seals and sea lions that the center is dealing with. “We’re up to our ankles in sea lions,” said intern Kelly Eastlund. To see more photos of the release click here.
And not just sea lions. Last week the shelter rescued a Guadalupe fur seal for only the third time in more than 20 years.
“They’re threatened,” said Hiner in a hurry Monday, as she was helping staff take blood. “We’re also close to surpassing our record, we have 23 in already and a rescue call to respond to.” The inundation of marine mammals is due to El Niño-like weather conditions that alter ocean currents, which in turn change where food can be found, Hiner said.
 A seal begins the swim to freedom. The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson Sea lions and seals are dangerous and the center urges people to view their splendor — however adorable — from afar. Saturday’s release was heartwarming for center volunteers, but not without a bit of heartache. “We’ve been feeding them since they were babies,” said volunteer Pauline Lodolini. “These guys start coming in by around March.” Lodolini said they are nursed back to health with the ultimate goal of releasing them back to the wild. “They have to be a certain weight to be released,” she said. “It’s good to look out and say, ‘these guys are fat,’ let’s get them out of here,’” said Hiner, addressing the crowd that lined the area above the beach. “You get attached to them, it’s kind of like a bittersweet thing, but you know that they’ll have a better life out there,” said Eastlund, in rubber boots, pointing out to the waves.
 An audience watches. The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson “We release the Pacific harbor seals here because it’s a rookery,” said Eastlund. “There’s more of a chance for them to find more of their own.” A rookery is where seal pups are born. One of the releasees, Seamus, had a special story involving Dag Josang of McKinleyville. Josang was jogging on the beach at the Mouth of the Mad River in April when he came across the seal. “I found the pup stranded on the beach by itself,” said Josang. He called a volunteer at the Mammal Center who explained the center’s policy is to wait 24 hours to see if the seal will return to the ocean. He waited and then called the center again the next day and a volunteer returned to the area, said Josang. What the volunteer came upon horrified him. “This guy was siccing his dog on Seamus,” said Josang. “The volunteer encountered the guy face-to-face —probably at risk of his own personal safety.” Josang said Seamus “sustained bite wounds to the face from the dog.” Since the April rescue, Josang had monitored Seamus’ progress and was on hand for his release, said Hiner. “The care center people are great, they invited us to participate in the release,” said Josang, as he made his way down to the plastic cage where Seamus awaited his release. “It’s really a good thing to see them go,” said Vicki Farr, rescue coordinator. she had to cut her comments short however, because she found herself coordinating additional rescues. “I was coming back up the beach with two empty cages when I got my third call of the morning,” said Farr. Farr said she would help with local rescues and Eastlund and another intern would head to Eureka. “Seven calls came in from Eureka,” said Eastlund, headed toward a truck. “Me and the other intern are headed there right now.” |
