OPEN DAILY – Laguna Beach
WELCOME TO THE PACIFIC MARINE MAMMAL CENTER! The Pacific Marine Mammal Center rescues, rehabilitates, and releases marine mammals, and in doing so we contribute to ocean science and conservation. See some of our current rescued patients recovering! We are run primarily by volunteers who will greet you in our visitor yard and introduce you to our California sea lions, Northern elephant seals, Pacific harbor seals, or Northern fur seal patients. Our visitor yard features interactive displays, marine mammal artifacts, and a Treasure Trove gift shop. There is no charge for admission, but donations are appreciated! PMMC also offers educational programs for all ages.
OPEN DAILY FROM 10:00 am TO 4:00 pm
Reservations are required for groups of 10 or more only, smaller groups need not make reservations. We are closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
20612 Laguna Canyon Road Laguna Beach, CA 92651
HISTORY
Pacific Marine Mammal Center began as Friends of the Sea Lion in 1971 with only three volunteers: Jim Stauffer, John Cunningham, and Dr. Rose Ekeberg.
In the spring of 1971, a little girl approached Jim Stauffer, a Newport Beach lifeguard, on the beach. The little girl told Jim that she had seen a seal on the beach. Jim hopped in his lifeguard jeep and went to go investigate. What he found was a young Pacific harbor seal. When Jim placed the animal in his jeep, it leaped right out. Jim decided the animal must be healthy and just needed to rest, so he returned to work.
Concern for the animal nagged at him all day. When Jim returned to check on the small seal, it was still on the beach. Jim picked up the seal and took it to the Dover Shores Animal Hospital, where Dr. Rod La Shell examined the animal and found that it had lungworms. With advice from Dr. La Shell, Jim nursed the harbor seal back to health and released the animal back into the ocean.
MISSION STATEMENT
“The Pacific Marine Mammal Center rescues, rehabilitates, and releases marine mammals and inspires ocean stewardship through research, education, and collaboration.”
Rescue
Unlike whales and dolphins, seals and sea lions don’t have to remain in the water in order to survive. The animals beach themselves to be warm and dry when feeling ill. They seek rest on land for a variety of reasons and are not always in need of intervention. Our staff is trained to recognize animals suffering from infections, malnourishment, pneumonia, gill net strangulation, etc. which can harm an animal’s chance for survival.
Rehabilitation
When a “patient” is admitted, our staff performs all necessary procedures under the direction and protocols set by the Animal Care Director and our Veterinary Medical Director. During the course of rehabilitation, animals require a variety of treatments such as administration of antibiotics and subcutaneous fluids, tube feeding, force-feeding, wound care, etc.
Most animals come in dehydrated and the most effective means to provide fluids and nourishment is through tube feeding. The process requires the blending of fish, electrolytes, warm water, vitamins, and medication into a fish formula. This formula is fed to the animals by inserting a flexible tube into the stomach using large syringes. As soon as the animals are hydrated and stable, we wean them to eat whole fish.
Release
Once an animal has gained an optimal weight and is competing for food, it’s ready for release. Prior to release, each animal is tagged with an identification number. The color-coded tags indicate the animal has been rehabilitated and helps identify the specific animal and care center in case the animal needs care in the future. We strive to return every one of our patients back to the wild once their care with us is complete.
Education
It is not enough to rescue and rehabilitate these animals. We must communicate what needs to be done so that positive change can happen. PMMC strives to inspire ocean stewardship in all generations through sharing the stories of the animals we assist. Over 50,000 people learn about conservation by talking with our education docents and interacting with exhibits in our visitor yard each year. We welcome over 7,000 children, most through our free programs for at-risk communities, in our onsite experiential-based education programs that teach the importance of marine science and eco-friendly behavior. Our outreach team engages thousands of more people in offsite programs, which share the importance of community involvement. Additionally, through distance learning technology, our education department brings conservation messaging to children and adults all over the nation and internationally.
Research
An important part of marine mammal recovery is ongoing research. Research is being done to find the pathological conditions that affect the marine mammals of Southern California. Only through this research are we able to discover the cause-effect relationships that can help us to understand the best means to rehabilitate our marine mammal patients.
For additional information, visit the website @
www.pacificmmc.org/beach-cleanups
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