El Nino-like weather conditions are starving marine mammal juveniles up and down California’s coast, resulting in unusually large numbers of animals that need rescuing.
The center currently has 22 sea lions and harbor seals.
“We rarely get this many sea lions,” said center director Monica Hiner. “The most we’ve ever had is 23.”
The center recently rescued a stellar sea lion that, according to center founder Dennis Wood, has only happened three times in the facility’s 24-year history.
El Nino weather patterns warm the equatorial Pacific Ocean and alter ocean currents, which in turn change where food can be found, Hiner said.
To see more photos from the center click here.
“They have just been weaned,” Dickey said. “The older animals know where the food shifts to when conditions change. The little guys don’t, and so end up going without.”
According to Dickey and Hiner, the change in water temperature drives primary food sources like fish into different areas of the ocean.
In a pen with two California sea lion pups, barely big enough to be called juvenile, one demonstrated just how recently it had been weaned by suckling at the underbelly of his pen mate.
“We’re definitely feeling slightly overwhelmed,” Hiner said.
Center volunteer supervisor Kevin Luskin agreed and laughingly referred to the need for “tag team feeding.”
The staff is worried that this may only be the beginning.
“Down in Sausalito they have been seeing 10 to 15 a day,” Dickey said. “We tend to follow their trend by a couple of weeks.”
If the number of animals being rescued increased to Sausalito’s level, the center would be hard-pressed to house them. It has the capacity to handle up to 50 animals — if it has enough volunteers.
“We always need more volunteers,” Luskin said. “But with these numbers the need is greater than ever.”
On Saturday, the center will release four of its harbor seal pups back into the wild behind the Hampton Inn.
“It’s hard to see them go,” Luskin said. “You really get to love these little guys. But imagine that they swim like birds fly. How could you deny them what must be so much fun?”
The release is open to the public and starts at 9 a.m.
“We would love it if people came out to watch them get released,” Hiner said. “I am definitely bringing my daughters.
Despite the lovable look and generally good nature of their charges, the volunteers never turn their backs on the animals and even use a board to protect each other’s backs or for herding purposes.
“They have some real sharp spiny little teeth,” Dickey said. “They are known to bite.”
Which is why people enjoying North Coast beaches should stay away from marine mammals, whether big or small.
“If someone sees a beached marine mammal they should call the center so we can take care of it,” said Luskin. “People should really try and stay as far away as possible.”
The center’s phone number is (707) 465-6265.
